Mexico vs. South Korea Prediction, Odds, Best Prop Bet for World Cup Group Stage
Mexico vs. South Korea Prediction, Odds, Best Prop Bet for World Cup Group Stage
Betting odds, pick and prediction for the Mexico vs. South Korea match in Group A at the 2026 World Cup.Peter Dewey|
A key matchup in Group A at the 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to take place at Guadalajara Stadium, as Mexico has a “home” match against South Korea.
Mexico picked up a 2-0 win and is atop Group A – for now – after taking down South Africa in its first game of the tournament. South Korea is only behind in goal differential, as it picked up a 2-1 win over Czechia, scoring two unanswered goals to win for a sixth time in its last 10 international matches.
These countries have met six times before, including in 2025 when they played to a 2-2 draw in an international friendly.
Still, oddsmakers have Mexico (+105) favored to win this match.
Let’s check out the odds, a player prop to bet, each team’s history in the World Cup and my prediction for this Group A battle.
Mexico vs. South Korea Odds and Total
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
Moneyline
- Mexico: +105
- South Korea: +300
- Draw: +230
Total
- 2.5 (Over +140/Under -170)
Mexico vs. South Korea How to Watch
- Date: Thursday, June 18
- Time: 9:00 p.m. EST
- Venue: Guadalajara Stadium
- How to Watch (TV): FOX, Peacock, Telemundo
Mexico vs. South Korea History and Tournament Results
This is the seventh time that Mexico and South Korea have met in international play. So far, Mexico has four wins, one draw and one loss in six meetings. The last meeting between the two nations was in 2025, when they played to a 2-2 draw in an international friendly.
Mexico
Mexico put together a commanding performance to open the World Cup, beating South Africa 2-0 behind goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez. It was a chippy match, as two players from South Africa were given red cards while Mexico’s César Montes received a red card in extra time.
Mexico has multiple quarterfinal appearances at the World Cup and made the Round of 16 from 1994 through 2018 before a Group Stage exit in 2022. Can it make a deep run in 2026?
South Korea
South Korea came back to beat Czechia in its World Cup opener, scoring once in the 67th minute and again in the 80th minute to secure a 2-1 win. South Korea now has six wins, one draw and three losses in its last 10 international matches.
After Round of 16 exits in 2010 and 2022, South Korea is looking to make a deep run out of Group A in 2026.
Mexico vs. South Korea Best Prop Bet
Raul Jimenez Anytime Goalscorer (+205)
Mexico’s Raul Jimenez scored in the 67th minute of the team’s opening match against South Africa, his first goal in the World Cup in his career.
Jimenez had three goals in six matches for Mexico during the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, and he’s coming off a strong 2025-26 season with Fulham, scoring nine goals in 36 matches. Jimenez was even better in 2025, scoring 12 times in 38 matches.
South Korea allowed a goal to Czechia in its opener, and it has given up 13 goals over its last 10 international matches, including two to Mexico in 2025.
I think Jimenez is worth a look after he recorded a goal, four shots and two shots on goal in the win against South Africa.
Mexico vs. South Korea Prediction and Pick
Even though the last match between these nations was a tie, we haven’t seen many draws on either side over the last 10 matches.
South Korea has six wins, three losses and one tie in its last 10 while Mexico has seven wins, two draws and a loss.
Mexico has given up just four goals during that 10-match stretch, and it should get a boost from the home crowd on Thursday night. Plus, Mexico has won three of the four meetings between these nations since 2014.
Mexico allowed just two shots and 0.07 expected goals against South Africa, and while South Korea is a much better offensive team (averaging 1.3 expected goals per game over its last 10 matches), Mexico hasn’t allowed more than one goal in a match since last November in a loss to Paraguay. In fact, it has outscored opponents 18-4 over its last 10 matches.
I’ll take a shot on the host nation to pick up a second win in the 2026 World Cup.
Pick: Mexico Moneyline (+105 at DraftKings)
Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
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Published Jun 18, 2026 | Modified Jun 18, 2026
PETER DEWEYPeter is a senior editor for Sports Illustrated Betting. He has worked as a writer and editor for BetSided, NBC Sports, the Connecticut Sun and the Meriden Record-Journal covering the NBA, WNBA, NFL, MLB, and more. A New York City resident, he is a hoops fanatic with a soft spot for his New York Knicks.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
