Thapelo Maseko’s second-half strike sent South Africa into the World Cup knockout stage for the first time on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, as Bafana Bafana edged South Korea 1-0 in a tense Group A showdown.
Maseko bent a low shot into the bottom-right corner in the 63rd minute to give South Africa four points and a place in the last 32. They will meet co-hosts Canada in Los Angeles on June 28.
Group winners Mexico sit atop the table after a 3-0 victory over Czechia, while South Korea, who started with talisman Son Heung-min on the bench, remain on three points and still have a route through as one of the best third-placed teams.
This marks South Africa’s first progression past the group stage after exits in 1998, 2002 and 2010.
Coach Hugo Broos hailed the achievement: “It was a fantastic experience. It was so tough today, but it was a good game. I think tactically we were very good and it was difficult for South Korea to find space. We scored, then there were 20 minutes of heart-stopping moments. It’s historical, and I’m very happy for the guys. I’ve been working with them for five years.”
South Korea controlled much of the possession but lacked a cutting edge. Early pressure included an almost-certain goal when Kim Min-jae’s header was cleared off the line by Aubrey Modiba inside two minutes, and Lee Kang-in fired over shortly after. South Africa gradually grew into the match and came close in the 19th minute when Maseko chased a through ball but was denied by a superb last-ditch tackle from Lee Ki-hyuk.
South Korea keeper Kim Seung-gyu kept his side in the game with an excellent double save, first denying Thalente Mbatha and then smothering Evidence Makgopa’s follow-up.
Despite sustained possession and the introduction of captain Son at halftime, Korea could not break down a disciplined South African defense.
The decisive moment arrived when Tshepang Moremi slipped a precise pass to Maseko, who shifted onto his favored left foot and drilled a low finish into the corner to secure a historic win and send Bafana Bafana into the knockout rounds.
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