South Africa achieved a historic milestone by advancing to the knockout phase of the 2026 World Cup for the first time, showcasing an incredible turnaround after a devastating loss to Mexico. The team faced humiliation in their opener, which included two red cards, but rebounded dramatically with a late victory against South Korea on Wednesday, clinching a 1-0 win thanks to Thapelo Maseko.

Captain Ronwen Williams revealed the motivation behind their performance, stating, "Everybody was against us; we use that as energy to fight today. It's amazing what we achieved." This siege mentality fueled their determination as they prepared to face Canada next, aiming for a spot in the last 16.

South Korea, despite their loss, still has a chance to qualify as one of the best third-placed teams, but they will rue missed opportunities. The Czech Republic succumbed to a 3-0 defeat against Mexico, allowing South Africa to leapfrog into second place in the group.

Key moments of the match included:

• Kim Min-jae's header cleared off the line by Aubrey Modiba early on.
• A superb double save by Kim Seung-gyu, denying Thalente Mbatha and Evidence Makgopa.
• Maseko's decisive goal in the 63rd minute, following a precise pass from Moremi, showcased his skill as he shifted the ball onto his left and scored into the bottom right corner.

Having failed to advance from the group stage in their previous three World Cup appearances (1998, 2002, and 2010), this victory marks a significant achievement for Bafana Bafana.