South Africa reaches the Round of 32 for the first time.

The South African national team reached the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup for the first time in its fourth participation, defeating South Korea 1-0 on Wednesday at the Monterrey Stadium in Mexico during the third and final round of Group A in the 2026 edition.

South Africa will play in the Round of 32 against Canada in Los Angeles on the 28th of this month.

The South African team owes its precious victory to player Thabiso Mashego, who scored the only goal of the match in the 63rd minute.

The team, coached by Belgian Hugo Broos, raised its points tally to four, placing second behind Mexico, which won against the Czech Republic 3-0, with a perfect score, leaving the South Korean counterpart in third place with three points, while the Czech Republic exited the competition in fourth place with one point.

South Korea will await the results of other matches in the group stage to determine its fate and whether it will advance to the Round of 32 as one of the best eight teams finishing in third place.

Broos said, "It was very difficult for South Korea to find spaces. We defended well and were dangerous on the counterattacks, and that’s exactly what we wanted to do today."

He added, "We scored a goal, then lived through 20 minutes of intense tension and heart palpitations... so yes, we qualified for the second round, and this is a historic achievement. I am very happy for the players. I have worked with them for five years, and what we have achieved during these five years is amazing."

The first half witnessed a fast pace and a back-and-forth exchange of control and attacks between both sides.

The first attempt came from the Asian team, with a header from Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae, after a corner kick from the left executed by Lee Kang-in, but South African defender Aubrey Modiba saved it before it crossed into the goal (2).

Lee Kang-in, a player for European champion Paris Saint-Germain, shot with his left foot from inside the penalty area, narrowly missing the right post (8).

South Africa's performance improved after a slow start and Korean dominance in the first ten minutes, as Oswin Apollis shot from outside the area, which was saved by South Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-kyu (20).

Thalente Mabasa tried his luck with a shot from outside the area as well, which Seung-kyu saved initially, but it fell to striker Evidence Makgopa, who followed it up from close range, but the South Korean goalkeeper excelled in saving his goal (30).