Bafana Bafana Edge It: Monterrey Miracle Sees South Africa Stun Korea To Make Knockout History
South Africa Vs South Korea Match Gallery, FIFA World Cup 2026: In a historic Group A finale at Monterrey Stadium, South Africa secured a stunning 1-0 victory over South Korea to advance to the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time. Thapelo Maseko's decisive 63rd-minute winner propelled Bafana Bafana from the bottom of the table to an automatic second-place qualification spot. South Africa will travel to Inglewood in the USA to face co-hosts Canada for their Round of 32 clash, while Korea face an anxious wait to see if their three points will be enough to progress as one of the best third-placed teams. Meanwhile, at the legendary Azteca Stadium, Mexico thrashed Czechia 3-0 to top the group with a flawless record. Goals from Mateo Chavez, Julian Quinones, and Alvaro Fidalgo sealed the win, while a massive ovation was accorded to veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who is making a historic sixth World Cup appearance. See the best photos from the RSA vs KOR football match here:
A South Korean soccer fan ahead of the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
Fans cheer ahead of the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
South Korea's Son Heung-min, center, warms up with his teammates ahead of the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
South Korean soccer fans ahead of the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
Teams Korea and South Korea before the start of their World Cup Group A soccer match in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
South Africa players pose for a team photo ahead of the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
South Korea's players line up during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
South Korea's Oh Hyeon-gyu (18), right, fights for the ball during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
South Korea's Lee Han-beom (2) heads the ball during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo looks on ahead the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
South Korea goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu (1) stops the ball during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
South Korea's Lee Kang-in (19), right, duels for the balls with South Africa's Khuliso Mudau (20) during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
South Korea's Lee Gi-hyeok (3) and South Africa's Thapelo Maseko (12) battle for the ball during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
South Korea's Seol Young-woo (22) controls the ball during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
South Africa's Thapelo Maseko (12) reacts after missing a chance at goal during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
South Korea's Lee Kang-in (19), left, fights for the ball with South Africa's Thapelo Maseko (12) during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
South Korea's Seol Young-woo (22) falls during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
South Korea's Oh Hyeon-gyu (18) and South Africa's Mbekezeli Mbokazi (14) battle for the ball during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
South Korea goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu (1), left, makes a save next to South Africa's Evidence Makgopa (17) during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
South African soccer fan Mama Joy cheers ahead of the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
South Korea's Son Heung-min (7) controls the ball against South Africa's Thapelo Maseko (12) during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
South Korea's Lee Gi-hyeok (3), South Africa's Evidence Makgopa (17) and South Korea's Kim Min-jae (4) leap for a header during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Addison Simmons)
South Africa's Thapelo Maseko (12) scores the opening goal during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
South Africa's Thapelo Maseko (12) celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
South African players celebrate with Thapelo Maseko (12) after he scored his team's first goal during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
South Korea's Son Heung-min (7), right, fights for the ball with South Africa's Khuliso Mudau (20) during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
South Korea's Lee Han-beom (2) and South Africa's Thalente Mbatha (5) battle for the ball during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
Referee Facundo Tello, of Argentina, issues a yellow card South Korea's Cho Gue-sung (9) during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Sofia Yaker)
Soccer fans react as they watch a live broadcasting of the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea at a public viewing venue in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
South Africa's Aubrey Modiba (6) celebrates with his teammate South Africa's Samukelo Kabini (18) after the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
South Africa head coach Hugo Broos, second from left, gets hugged by his players after the won the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Sofia Yaker)
South Korea's Son Heung-min (7) reacts after his team lost the World Cup Group A soccer match against South Africa in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
South Korea players react at the end of the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams (1) is embraced by supporters after the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Sofia Yaker)
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