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Group A team news: Son + Raul benched

25 June 2026 64 comments
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Group A reaches it conclusion with South Africa v South Korea and the Czech Republic v Mexico.

Hosts Mexico are already confirmed as group winners, having beaten the only other side that could also reach six points, South Korea.

The South Koreans need a point to confirm second place while South Africa and the Czech Republic have to win to stay in the competition.

Both matches will get underway at 02:00 BST.

TEAM NEWS

Mexico make five changes to the team that faced South Korea in round 2, with Raul Jimenez (£7.0m) among those rotated to the bench.

Julian Quinones ($5.6m), who scored the first goal in this World Cup, gets another chance to impress, however.

Former Wolves defender Ladislav Krejci ($4.4m) starts as the Czech Republic look to get out of the group stages for the first time since 1990, when as Czechoslovakia they reached the quarter finals in Italy.

The underwhelming Son Heung-Min ($7.4m) drops to the bench for South Korea with his place in starting XI taken by another Wolves player, Hwang Hee-Chan ($6.1m).

South Africa, meanwhile, will have to make do without the suspended Teboho Mokoena (£4.3m). The scorer of his country’s only goal so far in the tournament picked up yellow cards in each of his first two matches, triggering an automatic suspension.

In terms of ownership, only the budget-friendly Raul Rangel (£3.9m), the Mexican goalkeeper, is selected by more than five per cent of World Cup Fantasy managers.

LINE-UPS

South Africa XI: Ronwen Williams, Khuliso Mudau, Ime Okon, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Aubrey Modiba, Thalente Mbatha, Yaya Sithole, Thapelo Maseko, Relebohile Mofokeng, Oswin Appollis, Evidence Makgopa

Subs: S. Chaine, R. Goss, T. Matuludi, K. Ndamane, T. Moremi, L. Foster, I. Rayners, S. Kabini, N. Sibisi, J. Adams, O. Makhanya, K. Sebelebele, B. Cross

South Korea XI: Seung-gyu Kim, Han-beom Lee, Min-jae Kim, Gi-hyuk Lee, Young-woo Seol, Seung-ho Paik, In-beom Hwang, Tae-seok Lee, Kang-in Lee, Hee-chan Hwang, Hyeon-gyu Oh

Subs: B. Song, H. Jo, T. Kim, H. Son, G. Cho, J. Lee, W. Cho, M. Kim, J. Park, J. Bae, H. Yang, J. Castrop, J. Kim, J. Eom, D. Lee

Czech Republic XI: Matej Kovar, Tomas Holes, Robin Hranac, Ladislav Krejci, Vladimír Coufal, Michal Sadílek, Lukas Cerv, David Doudera, Pavel Sulc, Denis Visinsky, Adam Hlozek

Subs: J. Stanek, L. Hornicek, D. Zima, S. Chaloupek, V. Darida, P. Schick, J. Kuchta, M. Chytil, L. Provod, T. Chory, J. Zeleny, T. Soucek, A. Sojka, H. Sochurek

Mexico XI: Raúl Rangel, Jorge Sánchez, Israel Reyes, César Montes, Mateo Chávez, Gilberto Mora, Edson Álvarez, Luis Romo, Roberto Alvarado, Guillermo Martínez Ayala, Julián Quiñones

Subs: C. Acevedo, F. Ochoa, J. Vasquez, E. Lira, A. Fidalgo, R. Jimenez, A. Vega, S. Gimenez, A. Gonzalez, O. Pineda, O. Vargas, C. Huerta, J. Gallardo, L. Chavez, B. Gutierrez

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64 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. sunzip14
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Score predictions?

    Mexico 2- 1 Czechia
    South Korea 2- 1 South Africa

    Could Mexico's rotation reverse the scores?

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    1. SpaceCadet
      • 12 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      3-0
      0-1

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  2. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Czechia v Mexico 1-1
    South Africa v South Korea 1-3

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  3. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Schick not starting seems sub optimal

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  4. Obvious Dave
    • 7 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Are there about 10 million players in this game? Trying to work out if my rank is good or bad? Thanks if anyone is kind enough to reply.

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    1. PartyTime
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      It's possible to have this number of players but I doubt it's up to that. Rank history won't be saved so I think it's pretty irrelevant. Just play for fun imo

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      1. Obvious Dave
        • 7 Years
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Ok thanks for the reply appreciated.

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        1. CoracAld2831
          • 5 Years
          1 month, 16 days ago

          About 2-3 million. Source: No one.

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    2. Sheffield Wednesday
      • 6 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      AI answer ~ 2.3M

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  5. Mozumbus
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Double up Bounou and Mazrouei so badly failed, that too at 3-5 am, had to set an alarm to check and thankfully changed to Rangel
    No WC, 3 FTs
    Bitten by not transferring in V.Jr whom I could, preferred Mane, and now hearing sad stories about Senegal team management that players have to even buy food from their pockets as the country could not provide resources! Still hoping Mane can produce his magic

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    1. Kroenius
      1 month, 16 days ago

      I'm also regretting not using WC, my potential WC only would've scored 31 with Vini & Saibari with almost all of those points so 28 if had subbed of Czech def + Xhaka. So maybe I've done well to save it after all.

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      1. Mozumbus
        • 4 Years
        1 month, 16 days ago

        I could get V.Jr without using WC, so no regret
        Was in the illusion that Scotland will be tight
        Now hoping Mane will outscore V.Jr
        WC is best used in the round of 16, or in QF, imo

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    2. PartyTime
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Scouting bonus is a trap. I also picked Mazraoui but got better defenders as backup

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    3. Haa-lala-land
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Don't we all get unlimited transfers now, I think, going into R32

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      1. Mozumbus
        • 4 Years
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Yes, we do
        Didn't get your point though

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        1. Haa-lala-land
          • 5 Years
          1 month, 16 days ago

          Having no WC left is good, for me at least, or else we'd run out of opportunities to use all the chips and might have to burn one. Or two.
          I only mention it because you say you have no WC, but I think those with a WC left may be stuck between deciding to use that or a booster later

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          1. Mozumbus
            • 4 Years
            1 month, 16 days ago

            Get it, you can use a chip in addition to unlimited transfers in the upcoming round
            I might use one chip here, qualifying booster most probably

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            1. Kroenius
              1 month, 16 days ago

              Either that or clean sheet shield. Qualifying booster could also be interesting to use in SF if you're really confident that a team will win (like last wc I would've been pretty confident that Argentina-France would be the final from those SF matchups)

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              1. GreennRed
                • 14 Years
                1 month, 16 days ago

                You're better off when there's more games to hedge on teams progressing to the next round. Plus in MD8 might be worth it to have some 3rd and 4th place playoff players who won't progress from semi final.

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  6. Nightcrawler
    • 7 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Stick with hakimi cap? 11 points

    Got kane, mane ,dipmande, kdb, gakp still to go

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    1. PartyTime
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Wow I thought he had more than 11 pts. Defo twist.

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    2. Holmes
      • 12 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      stick imo, cant trust any of those options.

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    3. Mozumbus
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Stick

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    4. Tomsk
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Twist with Diomande. Curacao can’t play for a 0-0 tonight.

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  7. -GK22-
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Had the big 3 yesterday Vini, Hakimi and Salbari (16) but captained the wrong one

    Stick or move armband to Dumfries, Gakpo, Summerville?

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    1. PartyTime
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Twist

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    2. SpaceCadet
      • 12 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      twist

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  8. PartyTime
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Cunha over Kane & Messi looking good so far 🙂

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    1. PartyTime
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2026/06/24/fantasy-fifa-world-cup-2026-round-3-fplreactions-wildcard?_cb=1782369425462&hc_page=1#hc_comment_27652779

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    2. JBG
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Anyone over Kane looks good. England has looked so bad.

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      1. GreennRed
        • 14 Years
        1 month, 16 days ago

        They werd good v an aging Croatia. Not much class against Ghana low block. Need to adapt better.

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  9. SpaceCadet
    • 12 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Santos, saibari Vini c success.

    Bounou -1, Coufal 0. Thank god for subs.

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  10. Holmes
    • 12 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Not sure which one would be easier for Morocco, Netherlands or Japan.

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    1. PartyTime
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Japan imo. Dutch attack can be very lethal whenever they're motivated especially when Brobbery is in the xi

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      1. Holmes
        • 12 Years
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Morocco vs Japan feels like a game which can reach ET or even shootout. Dutch's defense has occasional mistake in it. Regardless, will be an interesting matchup.

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    2. Mozumbus
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      I was thinking the same lol, and in the next round Morocco (if wins) will meet the winner of Canada (confirmed) and South Africa (probably)

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      1. Holmes
        • 12 Years
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Yeah, not an easy bracket after that. I think Argentina and Colombia are in good position to reach QFs. Rest will have difficult outing.

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  11. Dub
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 17 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Apologies, I’m sure it’s been asked a hundred times - but does a goal count as a shot on target? Vinicius Jr didn’t get any SOT points…

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    1. PartyTime
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Yes. SOT for forwards only. Vini is a midfielder in the game

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      1. Dub
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 17 Years
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Ah thanks PT

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  12. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Went Saibari(C) over Vini.
    Next captain;

    A) Kessie
    B) Doue
    C) Konan

    Has to be A, right?

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    1. Holmes
      • 12 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Maybe, playing for a contract should be an added motivation.

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  13. Shark Team
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    I really like the WC Fantasy, the new cheap intoduced is a good one for phase of 32,
    either this or the other one with extra points for players who qualify.
    It's very close imo, one is good for this round and the other for round of 16 imo.
    Then WC for quarter finals probably.

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  14. Steager
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Why hasnt Riad of morrocco got scouting bonus points? How do get these? Thought you get them for 4+ points and less than 5% ownership.

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    1. Holmes
      • 12 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      More than 4pts needed

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  15. TafOnTour1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 2 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Dumfries, Summerville, or Gakpo for the captaincy against Tunisia?!

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    1. mbapzfanboy2211
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Surely not Summerville, Gakpo with a higher ceiling but Dumfries doesn't need to do much to get you over 12 points. Gakpo terrorized Sweden in MD2 so I would say he could potentially get huge returns long as his minutes aren't managed

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  16. mbapzfanboy2211
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Since Sarr and Mbappe play at the same time, would it be a good bet to captain the one with the far easier fixture and brace vs norway or the one thats in-form and motivated for the golden boot?

    I do feel though that if Sarr can score a brace against Norway, surely Mbappe can do the same if not better. But then what would that imply for Sarr vs Iraq?

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  17. SpaceCadet
    • 12 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Vini cap stick or twist?

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    1. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Stick.

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    2. Funkyav
      • 17 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      really?

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    3. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Don't be greedy.

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    4. theplayer
      • 12 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      100% stick

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    5. Kroenius
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Stick,ya greedy boy

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      1. SpaceCadet
        • 12 Years
        1 month, 16 days ago

        HooHaa

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  18. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Massive stuff from South Africa winning group runner up spot over South Korea. Not completely sitting the bed this time.

    Redeemed themselves.

    Terrible stuff from Czechia. Awful.

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    1. FOREST FOREVER 2
      • 1 Year
      1 month, 16 days ago

      As someone who stupidly went for doube Czech defnse in MD2 wildcard, i fully agree about your comment about the Czechs.

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    2. Kroenius
      1 month, 16 days ago

      I had
      1 : South Korea
      2: Czech Republic
      3 : Mexico
      4 : RSA
      I picked Coufal from M1 and look what happened

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  19. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Germany won't rotate in round 3, Nagelsmann wants to preserve team chemistry:

    https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/germany-won-t-rotate-dead-010000431.html
    https://bulinews.com/ecuador-germany-preview-team-news-and-predicted-lineups

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    1. Kroenius
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Well I took -3 to surely get Kimmich outta my team for Seol of South Korea. That didn't age well huh (-1 value and Kimmich is gonna start anyway)

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  20. dansmith1985
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Kimmich to start?

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    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Yes.

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