South Africa beat South Korea 1-0 in the group stage, Group A.

The match formed part of the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage, Group A, and was played at Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe on 25 June 2026. Both sides entered the encounter looking to gain early points in the tournament, with South Africa hosting the game in front of a lively crowd.

How it unfolded

The decisive moment arrived in the 63rd minute when South Africa’s Thapelo Maseko converted a left-footed shot from the centre of the box into the bottom right corner. The goal was set up by a fast-break pass from Tshepang Moremi, whose assist created the opening that broke the deadlock. The scoreline of South Africa 1, Korea Republic 0 remained unchanged for the rest of the match.

Ten minutes later, the home side’s Aubrey Modiba received a yellow card for a bad foul, as recorded in the match timeline. The booking did not alter the flow of the game, but it added a note of discipline to South Africa’s performance.

Six minutes after that, South Korea’s Cho Gue-Sung was shown a yellow card for a bad foul. The caution marked the final disciplinary action of the encounter. No further goals were scored, and South Africa held on to claim all three points.

Standout performers

Thapelo Maseko earned the match-winning accolade by finding the net in the 63rd minute, delivering a composed finish under pressure. His teammate Tshepang Moremi provided the crucial assist, linking the fast break that led to the goal and showcasing his vision in the final third. Both players were directly involved in the only goal of the game and therefore stood out in the match report.

Match facts

  • Final score: South Africa 1-0 South Korea
  • Scorers: Thapelo Maseko (63') – assisted by Tshepang Moremi
  • Bookings:
    • Aubrey Modiba (South Africa) – yellow card, 73'
    • Cho Gue-Sung (South Korea) – yellow card, 79'
  • Venue: Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe

What it means

The result leaves both South Africa and South Korea with a point from their opening Group A fixture, keeping their World Cup 2026 campaigns alive as they move on to the next group matches.