World Cup 2026 Group A: Final Results & Odds Scorecard

TL;DR:

Group A of the 2026 World Cup is complete. Mexico, South Africa reached the knockout rounds; the group's deepest run was Mexico — Round of 16 — lost 3–2 to England. Spain won the tournament, beating Argentina 1–0 after extra time on July 19. This page keeps the group's result on record and scores how the pre-tournament group-winner markets held up — then points at the 2026-27 club-season contracts trading now.

Group A at the 2026 World Cup: Results & Market Scorecard

Group A at the World Cup 2026 concluded on June 27, 2026, with Mexico and South Africa advancing to the Round of 32. Denmark, despite a strong showing, did not qualify as one of the best third-placed teams and was eliminated. This page reviews how markets priced Group A and what the outcomes revealed about pre-tournament expectations.

How Group A standings finished at the 2026 World Cup

The final standings for Group A saw Mexico top the group, with South Africa securing second place. Denmark, widely considered a strong contender before the tournament, finished third and did not progress to the knockout stages.

Live · Group A

Who advances? Market-implied probabilities

Team	Win group	Win cup
🇨🇿Czechia	50¢	50¢
🇩🇰Denmark	1¢	0¢
🇮🇪Ireland	1¢	0¢
🇲🇽Mexico	61¢	50¢
🇲🇰North Macedonia	1¢	—¢
🇿🇦South Africa	50¢	50¢
🇰🇷South Korea	50¢	50¢

Best YES price across Polymarket and Kalshi. Snapshots refresh daily — see each team page for the live Polymarket-vs-Kalshi spread and full market comparison.

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Last checked October 14, 2026

What the Group A markets teach us

Keep reading · Sports Tournament

Brazil at the 2026 World Cup — Round of 16 Exit, Market Recap

Mexico's Group A contract traded around 55-68¢ before kickoff, reflecting a significant 'host-opener premium'. This premium, as predicted, compressed as the tournament progressed, illustrating how external factors can inflate early market prices beyond pure team form. The eventual progression of Mexico, and the surprising qualification of South Africa, highlighted the unpredictability of group stage dynamics even when markets appeared to favor certain outcomes.

How far did Group A teams go at the 2026 World Cup?

Mexico advanced to the Round of 16, where their journey ended with a 3–2 defeat to England. South Africa's tournament concluded in the Round of 32, after a 1–0 loss to Canada. Denmark, South Korea, Czechia, Ireland, and North Macedonia were all eliminated in the group stage. Spain ultimately lifted the World Cup trophy, beating Argentina 1–0 in extra time in the Final on July 19, 2026.

The 2026 World Cup served as a powerful reminder that even in seemingly clear-cut groups, surprises are always possible. The host-nation premium on Mexico's price was a notable early-tournament market dynamic.

Archive market data from Kalshi vs Polymarket

Analysis of the Kalshi and Polymarket data for Group A from the World Cup shows varying liquidity patterns, with Polymarket often reflecting overnight sportsbook lines and Kalshi gaining traction during US trading hours. For a deeper look at platform-level differences, review our archive piece: Kalshi vs Polymarket: World Cup 2026.

Trade the 2026-27 Club Season

With the World Cup concluded, attention now shifts to the upcoming 2026-27 club season. Federally regulated prediction markets on Kalshi and Polymarket offer opportunities to trade on outcomes across major leagues and tournaments, legal in most US states. Explore markets for the Champions League winner, Premier League title and top four, LaLiga, Serie A, and even individual awards like the Ballon d'Or. You can also find per-match results as the season progresses.

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Sources

Every figure on this page is checked against primary sources — regulator filings, exchange documentation and official results. Prices and rules change; verify with the operator before trading.

Kalshi Help Center — fees, funding and account rules — Kalshi
Polymarket documentation — markets, fees and resolution — Polymarket
2026 men's World Cup fixtures, results and standings — ESPN
Soccer coverage and match reports — Associated Press
Designated Contract Markets (DCMs) — U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission
The Commodity Exchange Act & regulations — U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission

Editorial coverage

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Frequently asked questions

Who won Group A at the 2026 World Cup?

Mexico, South Africa came through Group A into the knockout rounds. The group's deepest run was Mexico — Round of 16 — lost 3–2 to England.

How many teams advanced from Group A?

The top two advanced automatically, and under the 48-team format the eight best third-placed teams across all twelve groups also went through to the Round of 32.

When did Group A play?

Group A played its three matchdays between June 13 and June 26, 2026. The tournament finished on July 19, 2026.

Did prediction markets price Group A correctly?

Group-winner contracts on Kalshi and Polymarket settled at $1.00 or $0.00 in late June. The recurring lesson from 2026 was that reputation-heavy names carried a 3–5 point premium over what results justified.

What football markets can I trade now?

Kalshi and Polymarket have both rolled football contracts over to the 2026-27 club season: Champions League winner, Premier League title and top four, LaLiga, Serie A and Ballon d'Or. Both are federally regulated and legal in most US states.

Offer terms

Certain limitations apply. The offer is available to new users only, subject to the terms and conditions at kalshi.com/tc/500. 18+ only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Please carefully consider if it is appropriate for you in light of your personal financial circumstances. Kalshi products are not available in all jurisdictions. See kalshi.com/regulatory for more information.

18+ Only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Not available in all jurisdictions. Trading is risky. 100% loss can occur. See polymarket.com/tos for more information. The Polymarket US App serves as an independent software provider and affiliate of Polymarket US and Polymarket Clearing, the CFTC-regulated exchange and clearing organization.