---
title: "South Africa Reach World Cup Knockouts for the First Time"
description: "Thapelo Maseko's second-half goal gave South Africa a 1-0 win over South Korea in Monterrey, sending Bafana Bafana into the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in the nation's history."
category: "Sports"
category_url: https://newsparlor.com/category/sports
author: "Liam Fitzgerald"
published: 2026-06-25T04:13:05.000Z
updated: 2026-06-25T04:13:05.000Z
canonical: https://newsparlor.com/article/south-africa-reach-world-cup-knockouts-for-the-first-time
tags: ["FIFA World Cup 2026", "South Africa", "Bafana Bafana", "South Korea", "football"]
---
# South Africa Reach World Cup Knockouts for the First Time

Thapelo Maseko's second-half goal gave South Africa a 1-0 win over South Korea in Monterrey, sending Bafana Bafana into the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in the nation's history.

South Africa have reached the knockout stage of a World Cup for the first time, beating South Korea 1-0 in Monterrey to send Bafana Bafana into the last 32 of the 2026 tournament.

## Maseko's decisive strike

The winning goal came just after the hour. Thapelo Maseko finished from inside the box in the 63rd minute, [ESPN reported](https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/49168091/south-africa-south-korea-live-world-cup-2026-latest-updates-commentary-score-result), settling a tight contest at the Estadio BBVA. South Africa defended resolutely thereafter, and South Korea — who had left out their captain Son Heung-min for the match — could not find a reply.

The result, [reported by France 24](https://www.france24.com/en/sport/20260625-world-cup-2026-south-africa-reach-knockout-stage-for-first-time-with-win-over-south-korea), left South Africa second in their group and through to the round of 32, where they will face co-hosts Canada. South Korea, dropping to third, were left hoping to qualify among the best third-placed teams.

## A first in the nation's history

For South Africa, the milestone has been a long time coming. Bafana Bafana had appeared at the World Cup in 1998, 2002 and 2010 without ever progressing beyond the group stage. The most painful of those exits came on home soil: as hosts in 2010, South Africa became the first host nation in World Cup history to be eliminated in the first round, despite a closing win over France.

Reaching the knockout rounds in 2026 lays that history to rest, and does so at a tournament expanded to 48 teams that has given more nations — and more African sides — a route deeper into the competition.

## African football's rising tide

The win adds to a broader story of African progress at the World Cup. The continent's high points had long been Senegal's run to the quarterfinals in 2002 and Morocco's run to the semifinals in 2022; a larger field in 2026 has widened the opportunity, and South Africa have seized theirs.

A round-of-32 tie against Canada now awaits — a winnable game against a host nation, and a chance for South Africa to push further into territory the country has never reached. For a nation that staged a World Cup without surviving its group, simply being in the knockout draw is a moment of genuine history.

## Sources

- [South Africa 1-0 South Korea: Maseko sends Bafana into knockouts for the first time](https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/49168091/south-africa-south-korea-live-world-cup-2026-latest-updates-commentary-score-result)
- [World Cup 2026: South Africa reach knockout stage for first time with win over South Korea](https://www.france24.com/en/sport/20260625-world-cup-2026-south-africa-reach-knockout-stage-for-first-time-with-win-over-south-korea)
- [South Africa v Korea Republic 1-0 — result](https://www.fifa.com/en/match-centre/match/17/285023/289273/400021445)