South AfricavsSouth Korea

South Africa edged South Korea 1–0. Goalscorers — South Africa: T. Maseko 63'.

South Africa met South Korea in Group A of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Monterrey Stadium in Monterrey on Thursday, June 25, 2026. It is one of the six matches in Group A, where the four sides each play three games and the top two advance directly to the Round of 32. With the eight best third-placed teams across the 12 groups also progressing, points here carry real weight from the opening whistle.

South Korea go in ranked 25th in the FIFA World Ranking to South Africa's 60th — a gap of 35 places that marks South Korea out as clear favourites on paper. It is an inter-confederation meeting — South Africa of CAF against South Korea of AFC — the kind of contrast in styles the World Cup exists to stage.

South Africa hold a unique place in World Cup history as the first African nation to host the tournament in 2010, when the sound of vuvuzelas became the soundtrack of the football world. Bafana Bafana have a passionate fanbase and a domestic league that continues to develop talent.

South Korea enter the 2026 World Cup with a proud tradition of Asian football excellence and a burning desire to recapture the magic of their remarkable 2002 run to the semifinals. The Taegeuk Warriors have qualified for every World Cup since 1986, demonstrating a consistency that few Asian nations can match.

South Africa: South Africa have appeared at three World Cups: 1998, 2002, and 2010 as hosts. South Korea: South Korea's greatest World Cup moment came in 2002 as co-hosts, when they reached the semifinals under Guus Hiddink, defeating Spain and Italy along the way before losing to Germany.

The match is scheduled at Monterrey Stadium in Monterrey, Mexico. Kickoff is scheduled for Thursday, June 25, 2026 at 01:00 AM (09:00 PM ET).