South Africa
has advanced to the knockout stages of the
World Cup
for the first time, following their 1-0 victory over
South Korea
.
Thapelo Maseko scored the decisive goal in the 63rd minute, propelling South Africa from the bottom to second place in Group A. This success secures a match against
Canada
on Sunday, taking place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, as part of the Round of 32.
This marks an impressive comeback for South Africa, especially after their initial 2-0 defeat to
Mexico
to start the tournament, which they finished with only nine players due to two red cards. After struggling to secure a draw against Czechia, the team needed this victory to keep their knockout round hopes alive, as a tie would not suffice.
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Czechia fell to Mexico 3-0, marking them as the first team in the 2026 World Cup to win all three of their group stage matches. This significant lead allowed Mexico’s coach, Javier Aguirre,
to bring on goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa in the 78th minute.
At 40 years old, Ochoa joins Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the only players selected for six World Cup squads, having first established himself as Mexico’s starting goalkeeper during the 2014 World Cup.
Like South Africa, Czechia was in a situation where a win was vital to advance, but they will now finish last in Group A.
Group A Standings and Results
|
W |
D |
L |
GD |
Pts. |
||
|
1 |
Mexico |
3 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
9 |
|
2 |
South Africa |
1 |
1 |
1 |
-1 |
4 |
|
3 |
South Korea |
1 |
1 |
1 |
-1 |
3 |
|
4 |
Czechia |
0 |
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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Potential Opponents for Mexico and South Africa in the Knockout Stage
Mexico had already secured the top position in Group A before Wednesday night’s matches. Their next game is scheduled for June 30 in
Mexico City
against a third-place team, with a further match on July 5 at the Azteca Stadium against the likely Group L winner, potentially
England
or another team placed third.
If South Africa manages to defeat Canada in the Round of 32, they will face the winner of Group F or the second-placed team in Group C during the Round of 16 on July 4 in Houston.
Prospects for Third-Place Teams Advancing
South Korea’s chances of moving on are still alive, albeit slim.
Currently, among teams with three matches played, South Korea leads on goal difference over
Scotland
, following Scotland’s 3-0 defeat against
Brazil
. However, South Korea is trailing behind Bosnia and Herzegovina. They might face elimination if both
Cape Verde
and
Belgium
tie or win, and if one of the remaining third-place teams with only one point manages to win in their final matches.
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Chances of This Group Producing a World Cup Champion
In summary, the prospects are not promising. Mexico has the potential to upset England in the Round of 16 and reach the quarterfinals. However, it remains to be seen if they can secure a victory outside their home country. This uncertainty contributes to Mexico’s odds being set at 33-1 to win the World Cup.