Group A's final permutations: South Korea, South Africa and Czech Republic's knockout paths

As the 2026 World Cup group stage draws to a close, three nations — South Korea, South Africa, and Czech Republic — find themselves bound together by arithmetic and fate, each needing something different from the same final round of fixtures. Mexico has already passed through the gate; what remains is a human drama in which points, goals, and even the conduct of players on the sideline may determine who continues their journey and who goes home. It is a reminder that in sport, as in life, the margin between advancement and elimination is often thinner than it appears.