Have South Africa qualified for knockouts of FIFA World Cup 2026?
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Bafana Bafana secured their first knockout spot in World Cup history.
South Africa earned a historic position in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 after defeating South Korea 1-0 in their last Group A encounter.
Thapelo Maseko’s second-half strike proved pivotal. Hugo Broos’ team put in a spirited display. They move to the knockout rounds of the global showcase for the first time in the country’s history.
Knowing that only triumph would keep their chances alive, Bafana Bafana rose to the challenge against a South Korean team that only required a draw to advance.
Also read: List of all nations qualified for Round of 32 of FIFA World Cup 2026
South Africa secure hard fought win over South Korea
South Africa survived an early storm. Aubrey Modiba made a critical goal-line clearance within the first two minutes to prevent Kim Min-jae from scoring from a threatening Lee Kang-in corner.
Credit has to go to Yaya Sithole. He was objectively terrible against Mexico before being sent off, missed the Czech Republic match due to the red card, and received some criticism from the supporters. However, he recovered well and played an important role in the midfield in the absence of Teboho Mokoena, who was banned.
South Africa’s efforts in the first half had an immediate influence on the South Korean bench, which sent LAFC’s Son Heung-min on after the interval. They were previously assuming he would not be required.
Also read: Why Son Heung-min didn’t start for South Korea vs South Africa in FIFA World Cup 2026?
Bafana Bafana effectively parked the bus, which was perilous given the time constraints. They managed to keep South Korea’s attack at bay until full-time. It sealed their historic spot in the FIFA World Cup knockout round for the first time in their history.
When was the last time South Africa reached the World Cup knockout round?
It’s their first time reaching the knockout round of the competition.
Where did they finish in Group A?
Second.
How many games did they win in Group A?
One game and drew once.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.