South Africa stun South Korea to reach World Cup knockouts for the first time
Key takeaways
- Bafana Bafana, playing in the tournament for the first time since they hosted it in 2010, have reached the round of 32.
- xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo South Africa forward Thapelo Maseko controls the ball as he is defended by South Korea's Lee Gihyuk during the 2026 World Cup Group.
- Bafana Bafana, playing at the tournament for the first time since South Africa hosted it in 2010, were widely written off after their 2-0 loss to Group A winners Mexico.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Bafana Bafana, playing in the tournament for the first time since they hosted it in 2010, have reached the round of 32.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo South Africa forward Thapelo Maseko controls the ball as he is defended by South Korea's Lee Gihyuk during the 2026 World Cup Group. A football match between South Africa and South Korea at the Monterrey Stadium in Guadalupe, Mexico, on June 24, 2026 [AFP]By AFPPublished On 25 Jun 202625 Jun 2026South Africa beat South Korea 1-0 to reach the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time in their history, an astonishing turnaround after a dismal opening defeat.
Bafana Bafana, playing at the tournament for the first time since South Africa hosted it in 2010, were widely written off after their 2-0 loss to Group A winners Mexico.