FIFA World Cup 2026: South Africa beats South Korea to reach knockout stage for first time
South Africa secured a historic 1-0 victory over South Korea in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking their first-ever advancement to the knockout stage. Thapelo Maseko scored the decisive goal, setting up a match against co-hosts Canada.
Why it matters
This represents a significant milestone for South African football, ending a long history of group-stage exits in World Cup tournaments.
South Africa celebrated a first World Cup knockout berth with jubilant scenes on Wednesday (June 24, 2026) after Thapelo Maseko’s second-half strike secured a 1-0 victory over South Korea, who still have a chance of advancing as one of the best third-placed teams.
The report is a standard sports recap focusing on match statistics and player quotes.
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