On Wednesday, June 24, South Africa qualified for the round of 32 of the 2026 Football World Cup, by beating South Korea 1-0, in the third round of Group A, in Guadeloupe.
A goal from Thapelo Maseko, in the 63rd minute, sealed the triumph for the South Africans, who had never reached the knockout stage, falling in the group stage in 1998, 2002 and, as hosts, in 2010.
In the knockout stage, South Africa joined Mexico, Switzerland, Canada, Bosnia-Herzegovina, which has already ensured that it will be one of the eight best third parties, Brazil, Morocco, United States, Germany, France, Norway, Argentina and Colombia.
Bafana Bafana finished the group in second place, with four points, behind co-hosts Mexico, who, with qualification and first place in the group assured, beat the Czech Republic 3-0.
Mateo Chávez, in the 55th minute, Julián Quiñonez, in the 61st, and Álvaro Fidalgo, in the 90+4, scored the goals for the Aztecs, who were the first to complete a group with three wins and nine points.
South Korea, which finished third, with three points and 2-3 in goals, can still qualify, while the Czech Republic, which returned after 2006, finished fourth, with one, and is eliminated.
The Czechs join Qatar, Haiti, Turkey, Tunisia, Jordan and Panama.
