South Africa Face Must-Win Clash Against South Korea in World Cup
South Africa and South Korea will meet for their final Group A encounter of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday, June 24. The match is scheduled to take place at the Estadio Monterrey in Guadalupe, Mexico, with kick-off at 7 p.m. local time.
For Bafana Bafana, the objective is clear: they require a victory to stand a chance of progressing. After a 0-2 loss to Mexico and a 1-1 draw with Czechia, South Africa currently sits at the bottom of the group with one point. A draw is unlikely to be enough to secure a spot among the eight best third-placed teams, meaning a win is essential for their first-ever advancement to the knockout rounds.
South Korea enters the match in a stronger position, sitting second in Group A with three points. Following a 2-1 win over Czechia and a narrow 0-1 loss to Mexico, the Asian side only needs a draw to guarantee a second-place finish and a spot in the round of 32.
Head coach Hugo Broos will be missing key midfielders Teboho Mokoena and Themba Zwane due to suspensions. Mokoena is out after receiving yellow cards in both previous matches, while Zwane's suspension was upgraded to three matches by FIFA following a red card against Mexico. However, Sphephelo Sithole returns to the squad after serving a one-match ban.
Broos expressed confidence in his team's preparation, stating that his players are well-informed and ready to exploit South Korea's weaknesses. He described the opposition as a disciplined and physically strong team that maintains high intensity for the full 90 minutes.
South Korea is expected to maintain a consistent lineup, likely featuring their attacking trio of Son, Lee-Kang-In, and Lee Jae-Sung. The team is looking to bounce back from a defeat to Mexico that was caused by a goalkeeping error by Kim Seung-Gyu.
