Bafana Bafana must win against South Korea in their final FIFA World Cup Group A game to keep realistic hopes of progression, with the match set for Wednesday, June 24 at 7 p.m. in Guadalupe, Mexico (Thursday, June 25 at 3 a.m. CAT, 1 a.m. GMT, 2 a.m. BST). The game will be played at Estadio Monterrey in Guadalupe.
Mexico will finish top of Group A regardless of the result after reaching six points. South Korea sit second on three points and cannot overtake Mexico because head-to-head records are the primary tiebreaker. Czechia and South Africa each have one point; Czechia lead on goal difference (-1 to South Africa’s -2). A South Africa win would leapfrog South Korea and could see Bafana finish second or third. Under the 2026 format the top two in each group advance and the eight best third-placed teams across 12 groups also progress. South Africa have never reached the World Cup knockout rounds, having exited at the group stage in 1998, 2002 and 2010.
Broadcast arrangements include SABC in South Africa, with SuperSport and Sporty TV also options for viewers in Sub‑Saharan Africa; SuperSport plans to air the match on channels 201, 202, 235 and 490. The BBC will show the fixture in the UK and US viewers can watch on FS1. FOX holds the US English-language broadcast rights for the tournament. Argentine referee Facundo Tello will take charge; Tello is noted for sending off 10 players in the 2022 Argentina Champions Trophy final clash between Boca Juniors and Racing Club.
South Africa will be without suspended Mamelodi Sundowns pair Teboho Mokoena and Themba Zwane. Zwane’s red card against Mexico was upgraded by FIFA from a one-match ban to three matches, while Mokoena serves a one-match suspension for accumulation of yellows. Sphephelo Sithole returns after serving a one-match suspension. Expected lineups are: South Africa — GK Ronwen Williams; LB Aubrey Modiba, CBs Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Ime Okon, RB Khuliso Mudau; CMs Thalente Mbatha and Jayden Adams; LW Oswin Appollis, AM Relebohile Mofokeng, RW Thapelo Maseko; ST Lyle Foster. South Korea — GK Kim Seung‑Gyu; LWB Seol Young‑Woo, CBs Lee Gi‑Hyuk, Kim Min‑Jae, Lee Han‑Beom, RWB Kim Moon‑Hwan; CMs Paik Seung‑Ho and Hwang In‑Beom; AMs Lee Jae‑Sung and Lee Kang‑In; ST Son Heung‑Min.
Form issues add to the stakes: South Africa have failed to win any of their last seven matches, drawing four and losing three. As per SofaScore, the suspended Teboho Mokoena completed 93 of 97 passes, made five key passes and scored a penalty in the 1-1 draw with Czechia. South Korea’s defeat to Mexico was the third of their last six matches in which they failed to score; they have won three matches this year and lost all three in which they did not find the net.
