South AfricavsSouth Korea

This match is one of the 72 group-stage fixtures of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, pitting two of the four teams in Group A against each other. Every group plays six matches over roughly two weeks, with the top two finishers in each of the 12 groups advancing directly to the Round of 32 — where the knockout bracket begins. The eight best third-placed teams across all groups also progress, so even a third-place finish can be enough to keep a campaign alive.

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. 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.

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 (21:00 ET).