Czech Republic vs Mexico Prediction: Krejci key again for Czechs

Co-hosts Mexico have already won Group A, becoming the first team to qualify for the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. On the other hand, El Tri's third and final group-stage opponents, the Czech Republic, know that only a victory at the Estadio Banorte (Wednesday 7pm local, Thursday 2am BST, BBC One) will offer them any chance of making the round of 32.

Below are my Czech Republic vs Mexico predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds, ahead of this meeting in Mexico City.

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Team News

Czech Republic boss Miroslav Koubek could stick with the same starting XI that lined up for their 1-1 draw with South Africa last Thursday.

Koubek made five changes from his side's 2-1 opening-round defeat to South Korea, dropping the likes of Tomas Soucek, Pavel Sulc and Lukas Provod, resulting in a slightly improved first-half display against Bafana Bafana before a drop off after the interval.

David Jurasek is out for the rest of the World Cup following a thigh injury sustained in training earlier this month.

World Cup Odds

With his side already qualified as group winners, Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre could make several changes to his starting XI.

Atletico Madrid midfielder Obed Vargas and AC Milan striker Santiago Gimenez are among those who could earn their first starts of the tournament, while Lokomotiv Moscow defender Cesar Montes is available for selection again after serving a suspension in El Tri's 1-0 victory over South Korea following his red card in their 2-0 success over South Africa on the opening night.

Czech Republic vs Mexico Odds

The Czech Republic are 11/5 underdogs, implying a 31.3% probability of success, with Mexico 9/10, or a 52.6% chance, and the draw offered at 11/4.

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Player 2+ Shots (Sub Switch) - Ladislav Krejci (CZE) @ 23/10

The Czech Republic haven't offered much in open play, but from throw-ins, free-kicks and corners, they've looked threatening.

Skipper Ladislav Krejci nodded in the opening goal of his side's defeat to South Korea on matchday one, and the 27-year-old defender followed that up with four shots against South Korea, two apiece from throw-ins and corners.

Krejci has now shot at least once in his last four competitive appearances for the Czech Republic, recording 3+ in a couple, and he ended the 2025/26 Premier League season in trigger-happy form for Wolves, registering two shots in three of his final five games.

He'll be a target from set-pieces again, so I'm happy to take him on 2+ shots at 23/10.

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Home Team Total Corners Over/Under +5.5 - Over 5.5 @ 7/4

The Czech Republic won five corners in each of their first two games against South Korea and South Africa, and considering they need to win against Mexico to keep their knockout phase qualification hopes alive, I'm confident they can record at least one more here.

Of course, an early goal for the Czechs would put this selection under considerable threat, but with the way they've been playing, I don't envisage a comfortable victory, particularly with the crowd against them.

Mexico only conceded one corner in their tournament opener against South Africa, but Bafana Bafana were terrible and were reduced to 10 men in the 49th minute, and nine men in the 84th, while South Korea were responsible for taking the only two corners awarded in El Tri's slender win over the Taeguk Warriors.