South Africa 1-0 South Korea: Five key takeaways from FIFA World Cup 2026 clash
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Bafana Bafana make history in the FIFA World Cup.
South Africa beat South Korea 1-0 in their last Group A match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Thapelo Maseko scored the winning goal in the 63rd minute, advancing Bafana Bafana to the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time in history.
Meanwhile, South Korea can still qualify for the round of 32. They will have to depend on the outcome of other games going in their favour.
Also read: Czechia 0-3 Mexico: Five key takeaways from FIFA World Cup 2026 clash
Key takeaways from the FIFA World Cup 2026 game
5. South Africa’s first World Cup win since 2010
South Africa pulled off a massive upset in their last group match after going winless in their first two fixtures at the 2026 World Cup. Following their win over South Korea, they achieved their first-ever World Cup victory since 2010.
South Africa’s last World Cup triumph came on June 22, 2010, when they defeated France 2-1 in the group stage of the tournament played in their backyard.
4. First win for South Africa in group stage games
South Africa reached the World Cup knockout round for the first time with a 1-0 triumph over South Korea, marking their first win in a 2026 group-stage match.
Thapelo Maseko converted in the 63rd minute off a beautiful cross from Tshepang Moremi. Bafana Bafana finished second in Group A, trailing Mexico, which won all three of its group-stage games.
3. South Africa qualify for knockout round for first time in their World Cup history
Bafana Bafana, against all odds, defeated South Korea 1-0 in Monterrey, securing all three points required to progress to the knockout round in the FIFA World Cup for the first time in history.
They will play Canada in the next round on June 28 in Los Angeles. It all came down to Thapelo Maseko’s second-half goal. Additionally, the team’s increased energy and offensive flair, which had been lacking against Mexico and Czechia.
2. South Korea’s hopes of playing in round of 32 still alive
South Korea lost 0-1 to South Africa in their FIFA World Cup Group A match in Monterrey, dropping out of the top two in the table.
Taegeuk Warriors still have a possibility of qualifying as one of the top third-placed teams. Korea are now fifth among the third-placed teams. They must wait for the results of the other groups to ensure their spot in the top eight.
Also read: FIFA World Cup 2026: Ranking best third-place teams so far
1. South Africa advance to round of 32
South Africa’s men’s national football team has surprisingly progressed to the knockout rounds of the FIFA World Cup for the first time in history. They advanced to the Round of 32 with a stunning 1-0 victory over South Korea.
Also read: List of all nations qualified for Round of 32 of FIFA World Cup 2026
Where did Bafana Bafana finish in the table?
They finished second in Group A.
Which nations secured direct qualification from group A?
Mexico and South Africa.
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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.