Former World Cup host nation keep dream alive as rivals meet after drone spying incident — LIVE

World Cup schedule for Friday, 19 June 2026

Match 25 – Group A – Czechia drew with South Africa 1-1, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

Match 26 – Group B – Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina – 5am, SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles

Match 27 – Group B – Canada vs Qatar – 8am, BC Place, Vancouver

Match 28 – Group A – Mexico vs South Korea – 11am, Estadio Akron, Guadalajara

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MATCHDAY 8 PREVIEW (via AFP)

Coach Hong Myung-bo on Wednesday (all dates US time) said a drone was spotted flying over South Korea’s training session before their eagerly awaited clash with World Cup co-hosts Mexico, calling the incident “unfortunate.”

Victory in South Korea’s match against Mexico in Guadalajara on Thursday would virtually guarantee progress to the knockout rounds, and put the winners in pole position to top Group A, which also contains South Africa and Czechia.

But the Taegeuk Warriors’ preparations on Tuesday were interrupted by the incident, which prompted fears of spying, with Korean news agency Yonhap reporting that the drone was brought down by Mexico’s military using radio signals.

“Yesterday during our training there was a drone in the sky, and we came to know about the fact. But fortunately it was right before we practised our tactics, so it did not impact us significantly,” said the coach.

“But, while we were preparing for the match, that was the most important timing. So, what happened was unfortunate,” he told a press conference.

Drone flights have been banned over stadiums and facilities hosting World Cup matches and events in Mexico, as well as the United States.

Yonhap said a South Korea team security officer spotted the device, and a Mexican military drone-interdiction specialist stationed at the training camp brought it down by emitting radio signals.

Two men who were suspected to be the drone operators retrieved the crashed device and fled the scene.

The Korea Football Association has filed a report to FIFA and requested reassurances that there will not be a repeat.

Mexican federal authorities did not respond to an AFP request for comment, while officials in the state of Jalisco said they had no formal record of the incident.

Meanwhile, Korean coach Hong said he expected a challenging clash against Mexico, praising the opponents’ “creative” midfield and telling reporters he expected a vocal home crowd to play a role.

“We fully understand that it’s going to be a match with the home team, and we know that that’s going to give benefits to the home team,” he said.

“But my players have experienced such matches before, so it will be different tomorrow, and we need to control the rhythm and the flow of the match.”

Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 in the tournament’s opening game last week, while South Korea came from behind to defeat Czechia 2-1.

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SWISS SUPER SUBS SPARK LATE FLURRY

Super subs Johan Manzambi and Ruben Vargas fired Switzerland to a 4-1 win over 10-man Bosnia-Herzegovina in a late rush of goals in Los Angeles on Thursday.

The result gave the Swiss a strong chance of reaching the knockout round as one of the top two teams in Group B.

They had been controlling a largely tepid stalemate at the SoFi Stadium until coach Murat Yakin rang the changes in the 72nd minute, bringing on the pair of forwards who immediately transformed the game.

Bosnia’s attempted clearance from a Vargas cross felt to Manzambi who volleyed home with his first touch of the game, before Manzambi turned creator for a Vargas finish.

In between those goals, Bosnia had Tarik Muharemovic sent off for a desperate sliding tackle on Breel Embolo, who was clear through on goal.

The afternoon got worse for Bosnia as Vargas then assisted another finish for 20-year-old Freiburg star Manzambi.

Ermin Mamhic pulled back a spectacular consolation from a corner, but a Granit Xhaka penalty in stoppage time sealed the rout.

Switzerland go top of Group B on four points, three clear of the other teams, with Canada and Qatar playing later Thursday.

With their country playing in only its second World Cup, Bosnian fans turned out in huge numbers.

A sea of blue swept into the impressive stadium and drowned out the Swiss support, with the exception of one man dressed as a cow, who defiantly rattled his oversized cowbell.

The Swiss had the better of the early exchanges.

Veteran midfielders Xhaka and Remo Freuler orchestrated forays down the left flank to Dan Ndoye, which fizzled out with poor crosses and lackluster finishing.

Having started very deep, the Bosnians slowly grew into the half. Forty-year-old star Edin Dzeko created their first big chance in the 32nd minute, cleverly switching play across the six-yard box to Benjamin Tahirovic, who failed to connect at the far post.

Ndoye nearly gave Switzerland a spectacular lead after the break, smashing a bicycle kick from Xhaka’s cross toward Nikola Vasilj, who did well to palm it over the bar.

An increasingly frustrated Dzeko earned a booking for bulldozing Manuel Akanji, and was substituted.

Yakin made three changes in the 72nd minute, and two minutes later, two of those subsitutes combined to finally put his side ahead.

Vargas ran up the left wing, his first cross bounced back to him, and on his second attempt, Amar Memic’s attempted headed clearance fell to Manzambi, who volleyed home.

Muharemovic was dismissed in the 79th minute for a sliding tackle from behind on Embolo.

The floodgates then opened. In the 84th minute Manzambi, coming in from the right, found Embolo who played it to an open Vargas to slot home.

Six minutes later, Vargas cut back to Manzambi, who guided the ball across the ‘keeper.

Three minutes into stoppage time, Gregor Kobel slapped a corner out to Bosnian substitute Mamhic, who rifled his shot home.

But the Bosnian backline had lost their heads, and a desperate foul by Amar Memic gave Swiss captain Xhaka the chance to bury his penalty.

SOUTH AFRICA STAY ALIVE

Teboho Mokoena’s penalty kept South Africa’s dream of reaching the World Cup knockout stages for the first time alive after a 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic in Atlanta on Thursday.

Michal Sadilek’s early opener had the Czechs on course for just their second World Cup win as an independent nation.

But Mokoena’s late spot-kick kept both teams in the hunt for the last 32, although they will almost certainly have to win their final Group A fixture to advance.

Both sides move onto one point, two behind co-hosts Mexico and South Korea, who face off later on Thursday.

South Africa next face South Korea, while the Czech Republic take on the daunting task of playing Mexico in the Estadio Azteca.

“I think we deserved more today because we played a very good game,” said South Africa coach Hugo Broos.

“But if we go on like that, and if we can make another performance like today, I think we have a chance to go in the second round.” Both sides started with disappointing performances and defeats on the World Cup’s opening day, but the Czechs quickly set about making amends.

Patrik Schick is the biggest name in a Czech side lacking the star quality of previous generations but the Bayer Leverkusen forward missed a glorious chance inside the first minute when he planted a header wide.

Miroslav Koubek’s men only had to wait another five minutes to take the lead. Adam Hlozek’s cross was classily cushioned by Alexandr Sojka into the path of Sadilek, who calmly stroked the ball past Ronwen Williams.

Now in their fourth attempt, South Africa have never progressed beyond the group stage at the World Cup.

Broos has overseen an upturn in Bafana Bafana’s fortunes since taking charge five years ago.

The 2010 hosts had not qualified for the World Cup since 2002 but finished third at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Their return to the global stage has exposed a lack of quality, though, particularly in forward areas.

The Czechs were left to rue not making more of their chances to kill the game off early in the second half.

“We are sorry about the result because I think that looking at the chances, we were closer to victory but we were not able to score the second goal,” said Koubek.

“If we score the second goal, it would be the end of the match.”

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There were thousands of empty seats on show at the futuristic home of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, but those that were in attendance loudly booed the mid-half hydration breaks in an enclosed and air-conditioned stadium.

The majority of the crowd were backing South Africa and finally had something to cheer seven minutes from time.

Thapelo Maseko’s shot hit the arm of the unfortunate Pavel Sulc and referee Tori Penso, part of an all-female officiating team, pointed to the spot.

Mokoena confidently drilled home the spot-kick for his nation’s first World Cup goal in 16 years.

They came close to a second five minutes later when Matej Kovar saved from Relebohile Mofokeng.

But both sides had to settle for a point that could yet prove vital come the end of Wednesday’s final Group A games.