History Made! South Africa Stun South Korea To Reach First FIFA World Cup Knockouts

Last Updated:June 25, 2026, 08:43 IST

Thapelo Maseko’s winner sent South Africa into the World Cup knockouts for the first time ever as Bafana Bafana stunned South Korea 1-0 in Monterrey.

South Africa’s World Cup dream just got a whole lot bigger.

A fearless Bafana Bafana side stunned South Korea 1-0 in Monterrey on Thursday to book a place in the FIFA World Cup knockout stages for the first time in the nation’s history.

The hero of the night was Thapelo Maseko, whose second-half strike sparked wild celebrations among players, coaches and thousands of South African supporters.

When the final whistle sounded, players collapsed into emotional bear hugs on the pitch. Head coach Hugo Broos embraced his staff before wrapping goalkeeper Ronwen Williams in a huge hug as the magnitude of the achievement sank in.

For South Korea, meanwhile, it was disbelief and frustration. Their fate is now out of their hands as they wait to learn whether they can progress as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams.

South Africa Bring The Fight

Few expected South Africa to be the better side for long stretches of this contest, especially after a disappointing opening match against Mexico. But from the first whistle, Bafana Bafana looked sharper, hungrier and far more adventurous.

Oswin Appollis repeatedly caused problems down the left, while Relebohile Mofokeng and Evidence Makgopa found pockets of space in a South Korean defence that never looked fully comfortable.

The biggest chance of the first half arrived after a costly Korean giveaway. Thalente Mbatha’s fierce drive was parried by Kim Seung-gyu straight into Makgopa’s path, but with the goal at his mercy, the striker somehow fired directly at the goalkeeper.

Son Arrives, But Maseko Strikes

South Korea introduced captain Son Heung-min at halftime to a deafening roar from the crowd. The substitution lifted the atmosphere, but it failed to transform Korea’s attack.

Instead, it was South Africa who found the breakthrough.

In the 63rd minute, a brilliantly executed counterattack sliced through the Korean defence. A precise pass from Moremi released Maseko, who surged forward before drilling his finish inside the near post.

Holding Their Nerve

The final half-hour felt endless.

South Korea finally began playing with urgency, throwing bodies forward and forcing South Africa deeper into their own half. Lee Kang-in searched for openings, Hwang In-beom battled through cramp, and Son tried to create moments of magic.

But South Africa never lost their shape.

Williams produced a nervy but crucial save from Park Jin-seob’s late header, while Aubrey Modiba, Mbokazi and the rest of the defence threw themselves into every challenge.

As the clock ticked into six minutes of stoppage time, the tension became unbearable.

Then came the whistle.

A Night To Remember

South Africa finish second in Group A behind co-hosts Mexico, who completed a perfect group-stage campaign with a 3-0 victory over Czechia.

More importantly, Bafana Bafana have achieved something no South African side has managed before: qualification for the World Cup knockout rounds.

About the Author

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His...Read More

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