It Starts Today...

After years of qualification campaigns, dramatic playoff matches, and endless debates about who can go all the way, the FIFA World Cup 2026 finally kicks off today.

Over the coming weeks, football fans across Koh Samui will be setting alarms for early morning kickoffs, gathering in sports bars around the island, and following every twist and turn of the tournament.

At Samui Unlocked, we'll be following the action throughout the competition with match previews, local viewing information, and our own World Cup predictions.

Will we get them right?

We'll find out soon enough.

Samui Unlocked Predictions

Mexico vs South Africa

Prediction: Mexico 2 - 0 South Africa

Mexico arrive with plenty of tournament experience and know how to navigate the pressure of opening matches. South Africa will be eager to make a statement, but we believe Mexico have enough quality to start their campaign with three points.

Game Finished: Mexico 2 - 0 South Africa

Winner: Mexico

South Korea vs Czech Republic

Prediction: South Korea 1 - 2 Czech Republic

This could be one of the tighter contests of the opening round. South Korea's pace and energy will make them dangerous opponents, but we're backing the Czech Republic to edge a closely fought encounter.

Game Finished: South Korea 2 - 1 Czech Republic

Winner: South Korea

Follow the World Cup on Koh Samui

Looking for somewhere to watch the games?

Our World Cup Guide features match schedules in Thailand time, venues showing selected matches, and useful information to help football fans across Koh Samui follow the tournament.

We'll be updating our predictions throughout the competition and keeping track of our record as the World Cup unfolds.

Let's see how many we get right.