South Africa stun South Korea to reach World Cup knockouts for the first time

South Africa made World Cup history on Wednesday, defeating South Korea 1-0 to reach the knockout round for the first time across four tournament appearances. Bafana Bafana finished second in Group A behind Mexico, who won all three of their group-stage games, and will face Canada in the round of 16 on Sunday in Inglewood, California.

Thapelo Maseko delivered the decisive moment in the 63rd minute, converting a precise cross from Tshepang Moremi to settle the contest and send South Africa through. The result was all the more remarkable given that Bafana Bafana had opened the tournament with a 2-0 loss to Mexico before salvaging a 1-1 draw with Czech Republic thanks to a late goal.

South Africa had been eliminated in the group stage at every previous World Cup appearance — in France in 1998, Japan/South Korea in 2002, and on home soil in 2010. Wednesday’s victory ends that record and sets up a last-16 clash against Canada, the second-place finisher in Group B.

For South Korea, the defeat leaves their knockout hopes in the balance, pending results elsewhere in the group stage. The Taegeuk Warriors had started the tournament with a 2-1 comeback win over Czech Republic before losing 1-0 to Mexico. South Korea have previous experience of advancing from groups, having reached the round of 16 in both 2010 and 2022, and famously finishing fourth on home soil in 2002 — the first Asian team to reach a World Cup knockout round.

South Africa’s opponent on Sunday, Canada, are also making their own piece of history at this tournament, having qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1986.