South Africa reach knockout stage for first time with win over South Korea
Key takeaways
- South Africa reached the World Cup knockout stage for the first time on Wednesday with a 1-0 victory over South Korea, completing a remarkable recovery after losing their opener.
- Issued on: 25/06/2026 - 05:46Modified: 25/06/2026 - 06:01
- The Bafana Bafana, playing in a World Cup for the first time since they hosted it in 2010, were widely written off after their 2-0 loss to Group A winners Mexico in the tournament's curtain raiser.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
South Africa reached the World Cup knockout stage for the first time on Wednesday with a 1-0 victory over South Korea, completing a remarkable recovery after losing their opener. Thapelo Maseko scored the decisive second-half goal as Bafana Bafana secured second place in Group. A behind Mexico after drawing with the Czech Republic.
Issued on: 25/06/2026 - 05:46Modified: 25/06/2026 - 06:01
By: FRANCE 24 South Africa forward Thapelo Maseko celebrates scoring against South Korea in their World Cup Group A match © Yuri CORTEZ, AFP South Africa beat South Korea 1-0 on Wednesday to reach the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time in their history, an astonishing turnaround after a dismal opening defeat.