South Africa Clinches World Cup 2026 Knockout Berth After Korea Victory

South Africa reach the World Cup 2026 knockout phase for the first time after a 1-0 victory over South Korea, sealed by Thapelo Maseko’s second-half goal at Estadio Monterrey. The result sends Bafana Bafana into the last 32 despite having just 31.5 per cent possession, their lowest figure in any World Cup match.

The win completes a strong recovery from a difficult start. South Africa opened Group play with a 2-0 defeat to co-hosts Mexico, which led many observers to dismiss their chances. A 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic then kept hopes alive before Maseko’s decisive strike confirmed progression to the knockout rounds.

Head coach Hugo Broos stressed how the World Cup 2026 run defied outside criticism. Speaking after the match, the Belgian coach said: "I'm very proud of the performance of my team and I think we gave an answer to all those big mouths of the last weeks that thought that we had to change something. We just did what we did. We just did what I wanted to do and this is the result."

Broos highlighted the personal meaning of this World Cup 2026 campaign, suggesting it may be the final chapter of a long coaching journey. Broos said: "I said it already in the past that probably it will be one of the last games of my career and when you can end a career like I had in this way, I think everybody or every coach dreams of it."

South Africa become the seventh African team to reach a World Cup knockout stage, adding a fresh name to the continent’s tournament history. The group phase featured three tight contests, with Bafana Bafana relying on defensive resilience and efficiency in front of goal rather than control of possession to secure qualification.

In World Cup 2026, Bafana Bafana now prepare for a last-32 meeting with co-hosts Canada in Los Angeles on Sunday. Broos expects another high-intensity test but believes the squad will embrace it. "I just know that the players will be ready again and try to achieve the third round," said Broos. "It should be even more historic. But those players are chasing those things. Those players want to prove to everyone and to show that they are a good team. So we will see next Sunday if we can go further."

World Cup 2026: South Korea and Son Heung-min’s role

For South Korea, the World Cup 2026 defeat leaves qualification hopes hanging on the ranking of third-placed teams. South Korea must now wait to discover whether results in other groups secure one of eight available spots, with the squad and staff facing an anxious period before the final group tables are confirmed.

Head coach Hong Myung-bo drew attention for a major tactical call in this World Cup 2026 clash, keeping Son Heung-min on the bench at kick-off. Son had started 12 consecutive World Cup matches for South Korea before this fixture. Son entered at half-time, taking the total to 13 World Cup games, behind only Hong’s 16 and Park Ji-sung’s 14.

Hong set out his thinking behind the decision regarding Son’s role. Hong explained: "We thought that Son would be better placed [to make an impact] when the opponents were losing their energy, not when they had a lot of energy. And when there were more spaces to exploit between the opponents' defensive line, that's when we wanted Son to be at his strongestwhen the opponents were a bit weaker. In terms of the process and preparing for this game, and how we would play on the field, that is something I put much thought into. But I had a strategy in mind."

Hong accepted personal responsibility for South Korea’s World Cup 2026 setback. Hong said: "Whenever such a bad result happens, everyone has their own opinion. The result is really the responsibility of the head coach. Ultimately, it comes down to my hands. I guess I made the wrong decisions and that was the reason we had a bad result. Nothing more, nothing less."

South Africa leave Monterrey with momentum and a place in World Cup 2026 history, while South Korea must wait on other groups. Bafana Bafana’s disciplined approach, clinical goal from Thapelo Maseko and Hugo Broos’ firm belief in the squad now set up a high-profile meeting with Canada in Los Angeles in the last 32.