South Africa beat South Korea to make World Cup history

Thapelo Maseko of South Africa celebrate wit teammates afta e score di team first goal during di FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A match between South Africa and Korea Republic for Monterrey Stadium on June 24, 2026 in Guadalupe, Mexico.

Wia dis foto come from, Carl Recine/Getty Images

Published
Read am in 2 mins

Thapelo Maseko second-half strike make history for South Africa as dem reach di World Cup knockout phase for di first time sake of dia victory over South Korea for Monterrey.

Three points move South Africa up to second for di table, behind Mexico, and leave South Korea wey bin hope say dem go finish as one of di best third-placed sides.

South Africa go now face face Canada for Los Angeles on Sunday in di last 32, by 20:00 BST.

Na game wey no too produce excitement as South Africa dey okay as dem dey defend and wait to hit dia opponent wit counter-attack, while South Korea lack quality for front.

Maseko snatch unexpected winner for South Africa, as e take touch to bring di ball to im left leg inside di box before e hit di ball wey pass through di leg of Jens Castrop and inside di near post.

Before dat one, di greatest moments of jubilation inside di stadium bin don come from Mexico fans wey dey inside di stadium as dem dey celebrate dia kontri goals against Czech Republic.

While South Korea bin dominate much of di ball na di African side, wey use dia head to deal wit dem wit counter attacks wey produce di best chances wey bring di goal.

South Korea just manage to threaten South Africa, wit one header by Oh Hyeon-gyu and anoda early shot by Lee Kang among dia chances.

South Africa, wey bin neva qualify World Cup since afta dem host am for 2010, don finish third for evri oda World Cup group stage dem don play.

FIFA World Cup 2026

Knockout Stage

  • Round of 32
    • South Africa NaN
      -
      NaN Canada
      (Penalties)
      NaN
      -
      NaN
      (Los Angeles Stadium)
    • Brazil NaN
      -
      NaN TBC
      (Penalties)
      NaN
      -
      NaN
      (Houston Stadium)
    • Germany NaN
      -
      NaN TBC
      (Penalties)
      NaN
      -
      NaN
      (Boston Stadium)
    • TBC NaN
      -
      NaN Morocco
      (Penalties)
      NaN
      -
      NaN
      (Estadio Monterrey)
    • TBC NaN
      -
      NaN TBC
      (Penalties)
      NaN
      -
      NaN
      (Dallas Stadium)
    • TBC NaN
      -
      NaN TBC
      (Penalties)
      NaN
      -
      NaN
      (New York New Jersey Stadium)
    • Mexico NaN
      -
      NaN TBC
      (Penalties)
      NaN
      -
      NaN
      (Mexico City Stadium)
    • TBC NaN
      -
      NaN TBC
      (Penalties)
      NaN
      -
      NaN
      (Atlanta Stadium)
    • TBC NaN
      -
      NaN TBC
      (Penalties)
      NaN
      -
      NaN
      (Seattle Stadium)
    • United States NaN
      -
      NaN TBC
      (Penalties)
      NaN
      -
      NaN
      (San Francisco Bay Area Stadium)
    • TBC NaN
      -
      NaN TBC
      (Penalties)
      NaN
      -
      NaN
      (Los Angeles Stadium)
    • TBC NaN
      -
      NaN TBC
      (Penalties)
      NaN
      -
      NaN
      (Toronto Stadium)
    • Switzerland NaN
      -
      NaN TBC
      (Penalties)
      NaN
      -
      NaN
      (BC Place Vancouver)
    • TBC NaN
      -
      NaN TBC
      (Penalties)
      NaN
      -
      NaN
      (Dallas Stadium)
    • Argentina NaN
      -
      NaN TBC
      (Penalties)
      NaN
      -
      NaN
      (Miami Stadium)
    • TBC NaN
      -
      NaN TBC
      (Penalties)
      NaN
      -
      NaN
      (Kansas City Stadium)
  • Round of 16
    • TBC NaN
      -
      NaN TBC
      (Penalties)
      NaN
      -
      NaN
      (Houston Stadium)
    • TBC NaN
      -
      NaN TBC
      (Penalties)
      NaN
      -
      NaN
      (Philadelphia Stadium)
    • TBC NaN
      -
      NaN TBC
      (Penalties)
      NaN
      -
      NaN
      (New York New Jersey Stadium)
    • TBC NaN
      -
      NaN TBC
      (Penalties)
      NaN
      -
      NaN
      (Mexico City Stadium)
    • TBC NaN
      -
      NaN TBC
      (Penalties)
      NaN
      -
      NaN
      (Dallas Stadium)
    • TBC NaN
      -
      NaN TBC
      (Penalties)
      NaN
      -
      NaN
      (Seattle Stadium)
    • TBC NaN
      -
      NaN TBC
      (Penalties)
      NaN
      -
      NaN
      (Atlanta Stadium)
    • TBC NaN
      -
      NaN TBC
      (Penalties)
      NaN
      -
      NaN
      (BC Place Vancouver)
  • Quarter-Finals
    • TBC NaN
      -
      NaN TBC
      (Penalties)
      NaN
      -
      NaN
      (Boston Stadium)
    • TBC NaN
      -
      NaN TBC
      (Penalties)
      NaN
      -
      NaN
      (Los Angeles Stadium)
    • TBC NaN
      -
      NaN TBC
      (Penalties)
      NaN
      -
      NaN
      (Miami Stadium)
    • TBC NaN
      -
      NaN TBC
      (Penalties)
      NaN
      -
      NaN
      (Kansas City Stadium)
  • Semi-Finals
    • TBC NaN
      -
      NaN TBC
      (Penalties)
      NaN
      -
      NaN
      (Dallas Stadium)
    • TBC NaN
      -
      NaN TBC
      (Penalties)
      NaN
      -
      NaN
      (Atlanta Stadium)
  • Third Place
    • TBC NaN
      -
      NaN TBC
      (Penalties)
      NaN
      -
      NaN
      (Miami Stadium)
  • Final
    • TBC NaN
      -
      NaN TBC
      (Penalties)
      NaN
      -
      NaN
      (New York New Jersey Stadium)

Group Stage

    • Group A

      Group A
      Kontri Di one dem don play Win Loss Draw Goal Difference Points
      Mexico 3 3 0 0 6 9
      South Africa 3 1 1 1 -1 4
      South Korea 3 1 2 0 -1 3
      Czech Republic 3 0 2 1 -4 1
      • Mexico 2
        -
        0 South Africa
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Mexico City Stadium)
      • South Korea 2
        -
        1 Czech Republic
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Estadio Guadalajara)
      • Czech Republic 1
        -
        1 South Africa
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Atlanta Stadium)
      • Mexico 1
        -
        0 South Korea
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Estadio Guadalajara)
      • Czech Republic 0
        -
        3 Mexico
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Mexico City Stadium)
      • South Africa 1
        -
        0 South Korea
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Estadio Monterrey)
    • Group B

      Group B
      Kontri Di one dem don play Win Loss Draw Goal Difference Points
      Switzerland 3 2 0 1 4 7
      Canada 3 1 1 1 5 4
      Bosnia-Herzegovina 3 1 1 1 -1 4
      Qatar 3 0 2 1 -8 1
      • Canada 1
        -
        1 Bosnia-Herzegovina
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Toronto Stadium)
      • Qatar 1
        -
        1 Switzerland
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (San Francisco Bay Area Stadium)
      • Switzerland 4
        -
        1 Bosnia-Herzegovina
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Los Angeles Stadium)
      • Canada 6
        -
        0 Qatar
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (BC Place Vancouver)
      • Bosnia-Herzegovina 3
        -
        1 Qatar
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Seattle Stadium)
      • Switzerland 2
        -
        1 Canada
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (BC Place Vancouver)
    • Group C

      Group C
      Kontri Di one dem don play Win Loss Draw Goal Difference Points
      Brazil 3 2 0 1 6 7
      Morocco 3 2 0 1 3 7
      Scotland 3 1 2 0 -3 3
      Haiti 3 0 3 0 -6 0
      • Brazil 1
        -
        1 Morocco
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (New York New Jersey Stadium)
      • Haiti 0
        -
        1 Scotland
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Boston Stadium)
      • Scotland 0
        -
        1 Morocco
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Boston Stadium)
      • Brazil 3
        -
        0 Haiti
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Philadelphia Stadium)
      • Morocco 4
        -
        2 Haiti
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Atlanta Stadium)
      • Scotland 0
        -
        3 Brazil
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Miami Stadium)
    • Group D

      Group D
      Kontri Di one dem don play Win Loss Draw Goal Difference Points
      United States 2 2 0 0 5 6
      Australia 2 1 1 0 0 3
      Paraguay 2 1 1 0 -2 3
      Turkey 2 0 2 0 -3 0
      • United States 4
        -
        1 Paraguay
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Los Angeles Stadium)
      • Australia 2
        -
        0 Turkey
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (BC Place Vancouver)
      • United States 2
        -
        0 Australia
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Seattle Stadium)
      • Turkey 0
        -
        1 Paraguay
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (San Francisco Bay Area Stadium)
      • Paraguay NaN
        -
        NaN Australia
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (San Francisco Bay Area Stadium)
      • Turkey NaN
        -
        NaN United States
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Los Angeles Stadium)
    • Group E

      Group E
      Kontri Di one dem don play Win Loss Draw Goal Difference Points
      Germany 2 2 0 0 7 6
      Ivory Coast 2 1 1 0 0 3
      Ecuador 2 0 1 1 -1 1
      Curaçao 2 0 1 1 -6 1
      • Germany 7
        -
        1 Curaçao
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Houston Stadium)
      • Ivory Coast 1
        -
        0 Ecuador
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Philadelphia Stadium)
      • Germany 2
        -
        1 Ivory Coast
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Toronto Stadium)
      • Ecuador 0
        -
        0 Curaçao
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Kansas City Stadium)
      • Curaçao NaN
        -
        NaN Ivory Coast
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Philadelphia Stadium)
      • Ecuador NaN
        -
        NaN Germany
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (New York New Jersey Stadium)
    • Group F

      Group F
      Kontri Di one dem don play Win Loss Draw Goal Difference Points
      Netherlands 2 1 0 1 4 4
      Japan 2 1 0 1 4 4
      Sweden 2 1 1 0 0 3
      Tunisia 2 0 2 0 -8 0
      • Netherlands 2
        -
        2 Japan
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Dallas Stadium)
      • Sweden 5
        -
        1 Tunisia
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Estadio Monterrey)
      • Netherlands 5
        -
        1 Sweden
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Houston Stadium)
      • Tunisia 0
        -
        4 Japan
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Estadio Monterrey)
      • Japan NaN
        -
        NaN Sweden
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Dallas Stadium)
      • Tunisia NaN
        -
        NaN Netherlands
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Kansas City Stadium)
    • Group G

      Group G
      Kontri Di one dem don play Win Loss Draw Goal Difference Points
      Egypt 2 1 0 1 2 4
      Iran 2 0 0 2 0 2
      Belgium 2 0 0 2 0 2
      New Zealand 2 0 1 1 -2 1
      • Belgium 1
        -
        1 Egypt
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Seattle Stadium)
      • Iran 2
        -
        2 New Zealand
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Los Angeles Stadium)
      • Belgium 0
        -
        0 Iran
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Los Angeles Stadium)
      • New Zealand 1
        -
        3 Egypt
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (BC Place Vancouver)
      • Egypt NaN
        -
        NaN Iran
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Seattle Stadium)
      • New Zealand NaN
        -
        NaN Belgium
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (BC Place Vancouver)
    • Group H

      Group H
      Kontri Di one dem don play Win Loss Draw Goal Difference Points
      Spain 2 1 0 1 4 4
      Uruguay 2 0 0 2 0 2
      Cape Verde 2 0 0 2 0 2
      Saudi Arabia 2 0 1 1 -4 1
      • Spain 0
        -
        0 Cape Verde
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Atlanta Stadium)
      • Saudi Arabia 1
        -
        1 Uruguay
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Miami Stadium)
      • Spain 4
        -
        0 Saudi Arabia
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Atlanta Stadium)
      • Uruguay 2
        -
        2 Cape Verde
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Miami Stadium)
      • Cape Verde NaN
        -
        NaN Saudi Arabia
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Houston Stadium)
      • Uruguay NaN
        -
        NaN Spain
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Estadio Guadalajara)
    • Group I

      Group I
      Kontri Di one dem don play Win Loss Draw Goal Difference Points
      France 2 2 0 0 5 6
      Norway 2 2 0 0 4 6
      Senegal 2 0 2 0 -3 0
      Iraq 2 0 2 0 -6 0
      • France 3
        -
        1 Senegal
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (New York New Jersey Stadium)
      • Iraq 1
        -
        4 Norway
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Boston Stadium)
      • France 3
        -
        0 Iraq
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Philadelphia Stadium)
      • Norway 3
        -
        2 Senegal
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (New York New Jersey Stadium)
      • Norway NaN
        -
        NaN France
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Boston Stadium)
      • Senegal NaN
        -
        NaN Iraq
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Toronto Stadium)
    • Group J

      Group J
      Kontri Di one dem don play Win Loss Draw Goal Difference Points
      Argentina 2 2 0 0 5 6
      Austria 2 1 1 0 0 3
      Algeria 2 1 1 0 -2 3
      Jordan 2 0 2 0 -3 0
      • Argentina 3
        -
        0 Algeria
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Kansas City Stadium)
      • Austria 3
        -
        1 Jordan
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (San Francisco Bay Area Stadium)
      • Argentina 2
        -
        0 Austria
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Dallas Stadium)
      • Jordan 1
        -
        2 Algeria
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (San Francisco Bay Area Stadium)
      • Algeria NaN
        -
        NaN Austria
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Kansas City Stadium)
      • Jordan NaN
        -
        NaN Argentina
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Dallas Stadium)
    • Group K

      Group K
      Kontri Di one dem don play Win Loss Draw Goal Difference Points
      Colombia 2 2 0 0 3 6
      Portugal 2 1 0 1 5 4
      DR Congo 2 0 1 1 -1 1
      Uzbekistan 2 0 2 0 -7 0
      • Portugal 1
        -
        1 DR Congo
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Houston Stadium)
      • Uzbekistan 1
        -
        3 Colombia
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Mexico City Stadium)
      • Portugal 5
        -
        0 Uzbekistan
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Houston Stadium)
      • Colombia 1
        -
        0 DR Congo
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Estadio Guadalajara)
      • Colombia NaN
        -
        NaN Portugal
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Miami Stadium)
      • DR Congo NaN
        -
        NaN Uzbekistan
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Atlanta Stadium)
    • Group L

      Group L
      Kontri Di one dem don play Win Loss Draw Goal Difference Points
      England 2 1 0 1 2 4
      Ghana 2 1 0 1 1 4
      Croatia 2 1 1 0 -1 3
      Panama 2 0 2 0 -2 0
      • England 4
        -
        2 Croatia
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Dallas Stadium)
      • Ghana 1
        -
        0 Panama
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Toronto Stadium)
      • England 0
        -
        0 Ghana
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Boston Stadium)
      • Panama 0
        -
        1 Croatia
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Toronto Stadium)
      • Croatia NaN
        -
        NaN Ghana
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (Philadelphia Stadium)
      • Panama NaN
        -
        NaN England
        (Penalties)
        NaN
        -
        NaN
        (New York New Jersey Stadium)
All times dey GMT+1 and e fit change.BBC hand no dey for any changes wey hapun.