South Africa is heading to the knockout rounds of the World Cup for the first time after a 1-0 win over South Korea.
Thapelo Maseko scored a 63rd-minute goal to move South Africa from last to second in Group A. The win means South Africa will play Canada on Sunday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, in the first Round of 32 game.
It’s a remarkable turnaround for the South Africans after they lost 2-0 to Mexico to open the World Cup and finished that game with nine players thanks to two red cards. After a draw with Czechia, South Africa needed to get a win to have any chance at making the knockout rounds. A tie would do it no good.
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Czechia lost 3-0 to Mexico, as Mexico became the first team in the 2026 World Cup to win all three of its group stage games. The multi-goal lead allowed Mexico manager Javier Aguirre to bring on goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa in the 78th minute.
Ochoa, 40, joined Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo this summer as the only men to be selected for six World Cup squads. Wednesday night’s appearance meant Ochoa has played in four World Cups. He first emerged as a starter for Mexico during the 2014 World Cup.
Like South Africa, Czechia needed to win to have a real shot of making the knockout rounds. Instead, Czechia will finish last in Group A.
Group A table, results
|
W |
D |
L |
GD |
Pts. |
||
|
1 |
Mexico |
3 |
6 |
9 |
||
|
2 |
South Africa |
1 |
1 |
1 |
-1 |
4 |
|
3 |
South Korea |
1 |
1 |
1 |
-1 |
3 |
|
4 |
Czechia |
1 |
2 |
-4 |
1 |
Thursday, June 11: Mexico 2, South Africa 0
Thursday, June 11: Korea Republic 2, Czechia 1
Thursday, June 18: Czechia 1, South Africa 1
Thursday, June 18: Mexico 1 South Korea 0
Wednesday, June 24: Mexico 3, Czechia 0
Wednesday, June 24: South Africa 1, South Korea 0
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Who will Mexico, South Africa play in knockout round?
Mexico had Group A locked up before Wednesday night. It will play June 30 in Mexico City against a third-place team, before a July 5 game at the Azteca against the winner of Group L — likely England — or another third-place team.
If South Africa can beat Canada in the Round of 32, then it will take on the winner of Group F or the runner-up in Group C in the Round of 16 on July 4 in Houston.
Chances of third-place team making knockout round
South Korea’s hopes of making the knockout rounds are not toast. But they aren’t great, either.
Among the three third-place teams that have played three games, South Korea is ahead of Scotland on goal differential after Scotland lost 3-0 to Brazil on Wednesday evening. But it’s behind Bosnia and Herzegovina. South Korea could be in trouble if both Cape Verde and Belgium tie or win and one of the three remaining third-place teams on one point who have yet to play their third game get a win.
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Can this group produce a World Cup winner?
In short, probably not. This is a Mexico team that could upset England in the Round of 16 and get to the quarterfinals. But is it good enough to win a game outside of Mexico? That’s what El Tri will have to do from the quarterfinals and beyond. And the likelihood of that not happening is why Mexico’s odds are 33-1 to win the World Cup.
