Mexico
FIFA ranking: 15
World Cup appearances (last): 17 (2022)
How qualified: Automatic qualification as hosts
Coach: Javier Aguirre
Player you may know: Raul Jimenez (Fulham) - The former Wolves striker is still banging in the goals in the Premier League, having recovered from a horrendous head injury in 2020.
Previous history: Ireland are winless in five games against Mexico.
- 1984 Republic of Ireland 0-0 Mexico (Friendly)
- 1994 Republic of Ireland 1-2 Mexico (World Cup)
- 1998 Republic of Ireland 0-0 Mexico (Friendly)
- 2000 Republic of Ireland 2-2 Mexico (US Nike Cup)
- 2017 Republic of Ireland 1-3 Mexico (Friendly)
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Not the force they once were, 'El Tri' still boast a healthy ranking and some of the most enthusiastic fans in the world. If you were going to draw one of the hosts, from a fan experience point of view, Ireland have potentially struck the jackpot.
Just as the Irish rugby team is known for its quarter-final exits, Mexico were renowned for exiting at the second round of every World Cup from 1994 to 2018. However their group stage exit from Qatar suggested a decline of sorts.
It must be noted though, that they made the quarter-finals in 1970 and 1986, when Mexico previously hosted the World Cup.
Javier Aguirre is their Mick McCarthy, only more committed, he is currently enjoying his third stint in charge of the national team.
South Korea
FIFA ranking: 22
World Cup appearances (last): 11 (2022)
How qualified: Asian Federation Group B winners, with six wins and four draws
Coach: Hong Myung-bo
Player you may know: Son Heung-min (LAFC) - The Spurs fan favourite is now plying his trade in Los Angeles with Andrew Moran. Very experienced attacker and an icon in his home country.
Previous history: The countries have never faced each other before.
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Son Heung-Min is the captain and poster boy, but South Korea has some serious talent performing at the highest level in Europe, with Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint-Germain and Kim Min-jae of Bayern Munich impressing in the Champions League. Not to forget Hwang Hee-chan who is enduring a tough season at Wolves.
This is South Korea's 12th World Cup finals, more than any other Asian nation. They have become a finals fixture without every really threatening to emulate the 2002 side, which used home advantage to propel them to the semi-finals (ask your parents about the refereeing in their second round win over Italy).
Since wrapping up qualification they have beaten the likes of Ghana and the USA in friendlies, drawn 2-2 with Mexico and been hammered 5-0 at home by Brazil. A set of results that suggests the knockout stages beckon, but they will fall short of that 2022 performance.
South Africa
FIFA ranking: 61
World Cup appearances (last): 3 (2010)
How qualified: African Federation Group C winners, with five wins, two draws and three losses
Coach: Hugo Broos
Player you may know: Lyle Foster (Burnley) - Josh Cullen's team-mate at Turf Moor has two Premier League goals this season.
Previous history: The Boys in Green are unbeaten from two clashes with South Africa
- 2000 Republic of Ireland 1-0 South Africa (US Nike Cup)
- 2009 Republic of Ireland 1-0 South Africa (Friendly)
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Amazingly, this is South Africa's first finals appearance since becoming the first hosts to exit at the group stage in 2010.
Having pipped Nigeria to qualify for the finals, Belgian Hugo Broos will be hoping to go one step further than 16 years ago and escape the group.
If they do it will be thanks to a group playing primarily domestically in South Africa, with the traditional big two of Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates contributing a sizeable portion of the squad.
