World Cup 2026 highlights and what you missed overnight: South Africa reach knockouts for first time

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·25 de junho de 2026

World Cup 2026 highlights and what you missed overnight: South Africa reach knockouts for first time

Bafana Bafana beat South Korea to make history as Mexico complete perfect group stage

South Africa have made history by beating South Korea 1-0 to reach the World Cup knockout stage for the first time.

Vídeos OneFootball

Thapelo Maseko scored the decisive goal in the second half, steering Tshepang Moremi’s cross into the bottom-right corner from 15 yards out, for secure a famous three points.

South Korea entered the game only needing a draw to advance to the next stage of the competition, but could not find a way to draw level and must wait on other results to see if they progress as one of the best third-placed teams.

The victory ensured South Africa finished in second place in Group A behind Mexico. They will take on co-hosts Canada, who finished second place in Group B, on Sunday in Inglewood, California.

At the same time, co-hosts Mexico scored three second-half goals to complete a perfect group record with a 3-0 win over a disappointing Czech Republic.

Goals from Mateo Chavez, Julian Quinones and Alvaro Fidalgo made it three wins out of three for Mexico and condemned the Czechs to an early exit at the foot of Group A.

Denis Visinsky flashed an early effort wide for the Czech Republic, but it was a rare opening in the first half in Mexico City.

Mexico, who made a host of changes with top spot in the group guaranteed, overplayed after a break with nobody willing to pull the trigger and they had to wait 36 minutes for a shot – Israel Reyes launching an ambitious overhead kick wide from the edge of the box.

David Doudera and Julian Quinones traded long-range efforts over the bar before the break, Jorge Sanchez forcing a first save from Matej Kovar.

Mexico soaked up some early, if largely unthreatening, pressure after the break and struck with two goals in six minutes before the hour.

First Mateo Chavez rounded off a quick break after being released by good work from Luis Romo, Quinones adding a second from close range after a clearance rebounded off Sanchez once his initial effort was blocked by Kovar.

Mexico had the luxury of bringing 40-year-old goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa off the bench to appear in a fourth World Cup and Alvaro Fidalgo rounded things off as he lashed home a loose ball in stoppage time after Kovar denied Santiago Jimenez.

Additional reporting by Press Association.