South Africa 1-0 South Korea - 2026 World Cup Match Report and Player Ratings

South Africa Qualify for First-Ever World Cup Knockout Stage

History for Bafana Bafana!

Hugo Broos will not be allowed to sail off into the sunset of retirement just yet, as his South Africa side have defied the odds and qualified for the World Cup knockout rounds for the very first time, sealing second-place behind Mexico with a tense 1-0 win over South Korea on Thursday morning.

Thapelo Maseko's clinical second-half strike was the difference-maker in the end, bringing a historic night to the doorstop of South Africa and condemning South Korea to a nervous wait for results elsewhere to decide their fate in the 2026 World Cup.

South Africa 1-0 South Korea as it Happened

South Korea almost grabbed the opener within the opening pair of minutes through mighty defender Min-Jae Kim. To an early corner, the Bayern Munich star rose high and headed an effort on goal that was cleared off of the line by left-back Aubrey Modiba.

Chances would come for both teams in a low-tempo game in the opening 20, with Relebohile Mofokeng smashed an effort from the edge wide of the mark and with Kang-In Lee doing the same on a Korean counter. Thapelo Moseko raced clean in on the right hand side at one stage, but he was thwarted by some excellent defending from Gi-Hyuk Lee.

Incredibly, South Africa didn't take the lead on the hour mark. A driving run from Moseko allowed Thalente Mbatha to let rip with a venomous effort from the edge of the area. Seung-Gyu Kim met it well, but palmed it into the range of Evidence Makgopa who somehow sent the rebound straight back into the keeper's midriff.

Halftime Score - South Africa 0-0 South Korea

It took as far as the hour mark before the first main chance of the second half finally came to pass in a tight, tense and - frankly - boring second 45. A slip on the left from Modiba allowed a cross to come in for Hyun-Gyu Oh to head on goal, but Ronwen Williams stooped down well enough to make the claim.

But in a bolt from the blue, Maseko would fire home a gorgeous goal to put South Africa on the brink of a shock qualification to the knockout rounds. Tshepang Moremi, on as a substitute just moments before the goal, barrelled down the left wing before hitting a low pass into the feet of Maseko at the top of the box. His first touch sat up nicely and wrong-footed Jens Castrop, before he swung a left-footed dagger past a helpless Kim into the bottom corner for 1-0.

South Korea seemingly had no answer throughout the affair. Their inspired performance against Czechia on opening night was nowhere to be seen tonight or against Mexico on matchday two, and South Africa were more than happy to slink back in on themselves and soak up all the pressure, with none of the penitration.

This digging-deep would continue right through regular time and up to the final whistle, with substitutes Heung-Min Son and Gue-Sung Cho both missing chances to equalise, and the whistle blew at the end to a soundtrack of wild South African celebrations - history made!

Full-time Score - South Africa 1-0 South Korea

South Africa Player Ratings

• Ronwen Williams - 6

• Khuliso Mudau - 8

• Ime Okon - 6

• Mbekezeli Mbokazi - 7

• Aubrey Maphosa Modiba - 8

• Sphephelo Sithole - 6

• Thalente Mbatha - 7

• Relebohile Mofokeng - 8

• Oswin Appollis - 6

• Thapelo Maseko - 9

• Evidence Makgopa - 4

Substitutes

• Tshepang Moremi (62') - 8

• Iqraam Rayners (74') - 6

• Jayden Adams (80') - 6

South Korea Player Ratings

• Seung-Gyu Kim - 6

• Han-Beom Lee - 6

• Min-Jae Kim - 6

• Gi-Hyuk Lee - 7

• Young-Woo Seol - 6

• Tae-Seok Lee - 6

• Seung-Ho Paik - 5

• In-Beom Hwang - 6

• Hee-Chan Hwang - 5

• Kang-In Lee - 6

• Hyun-Gyu Oh - 4

Substitutes

• Heung-Min Son (HT) - 4

• Jin-Gyu Kim (HT) - 6

• Jens Castrop (HT) - 4

• Jin-Seob Park (66') - 5

• Gue-Sung Cho (75') - 4

Man of the Match - Thapelo Maseko

The hero of the day for South Africa and a name that will ring long into the history of Bafana Bafana - the scorer of the goal that took them to their first-ever World Cup knockout stage.

Goal aside, Maseko was a constant thorn for South Korea and his goal was the seal on an impressive wide performance from him. In conjunction with the impressive Mofokeng in the attack, they kept South Korea guessing and eventually got their reward.

Bad Day at the Office - The Whole Korean Attack

It was too poor to just single one name out.

Hwang-Hee Chan was absent before being hauled off at the break. Son in replacement was no better, nor was Cho or Lee.

South Korea had no answers for South Africa tonight and Ronwen Williams ended up having one of the easiest nights of his career. There was no creativity or penetration, and as a result their World Cup future is left in the hands of a nervous wait for results elsewhere.