{"id":16190,"date":"2026-06-26T01:34:17","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T20:04:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/?p=16190"},"modified":"2026-06-26T01:52:37","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T20:22:37","slug":"fifa-world-cup-2026-south-africa-south-korea-preview-match-prediction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-south-africa-south-korea-preview-match-prediction\/","title":{"rendered":"FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122: South Africa vs South Korea Preview and Match Prediction"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Group A | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey | Jun 25, 2026 | 6:30 AM IST<\/span><\/i><\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_73 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-black ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Page Contents:<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #282fff;color:#282fff\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #282fff;color:#282fff\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-south-africa-south-korea-preview-match-prediction\/#Match_Overview\" title=\"Match Overview\">Match Overview<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-south-africa-south-korea-preview-match-prediction\/#South_Africa_%E2%80%94_Team_Analysis\" title=\"South Africa \u2014 Team Analysis\">South Africa \u2014 Team Analysis<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-south-africa-south-korea-preview-match-prediction\/#South_Korea_%E2%80%94_Team_Analysis\" title=\"South Korea \u2014 Team Analysis\">South Korea \u2014 Team Analysis<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-south-africa-south-korea-preview-match-prediction\/#Head-to-Head\" title=\"Head-to-Head\">Head-to-Head<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-south-africa-south-korea-preview-match-prediction\/#Tactical_Preview\" title=\"Tactical Preview\">Tactical Preview<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-south-africa-south-korea-preview-match-prediction\/#Key_Storylines\" title=\"Key Storylines\">Key Storylines<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-south-africa-south-korea-preview-match-prediction\/#Our_Prediction\" title=\"Our Prediction\">Our Prediction<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Match_Overview\"><\/span><b>Match Overview<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Group A concludes on June 25, with Mexico and Czechia playing out their own subplot simultaneously. Estadio BBVA decides second place. South Africa sits last in their group on one point, tied with Czechia and a goal difference of minus two \u2014 they need a win and hope the scoreboard helps. South Korea are second on three points; a draw confirms the Round of 32. All the pressure sits with Broos\u2019 side.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><i>\u25ba Catch every kick live on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/myaccount\/subscription?plan-ref=0-11-7467&amp;asset-ref=0-6-4z5914493&amp;visibility=SELECTED&amp;context=FIFA\">ZEE 5 FIFA Subscription<\/a>\u2014 India&#8217;s official home of the FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122. Download the ZEE 5 app.<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"South_Africa_%E2%80%94_Team_Analysis\"><\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/south-africa\/south-africa-squad\">South Africa<\/a> \u2014 Team Analysis<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bafana Bafana are back at the World Cup for the first time since hosting it in 2010. Their opener at the Azteca was a 2-0 defeat to Mexico, compounded by two red cards that left them with nine men. Against Czechia, Mokoena&#8217;s penalty in the 83rd minute \u2014 South Africa&#8217;s first World Cup goal in 16 years \u2014 salvaged a point. That yellow was his second of the tournament. He&#8217;s suspended.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Without Mokoena, Broos needs a new balance in the engine room. Thalente Mbatha anchors the midfield, with Sphephelo Sithole back after serving his one-match red card ban from Mexico. Appollis and Relebohile Mofokeng provide pace and creativity wide, while Lyle Foster gives South Africa a physical focal point up front \u2014 willing to hold the ball and bring others into play.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Key player: Ronwen Williams \u2014 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Africa&#8217;s best performer at this tournament. His shot-stopping kept Bafana Bafana in both games when things could have unravelled completely.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"South_Korea_%E2%80%94_Team_Analysis\"><\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/korea-republic\/korea-republic-squad\">South Korea<\/a> \u2014 Team Analysis<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Korea beat Czechia 2-1 in a controlled opener, then lost to Mexico when Kim Seung-Gyu&#8217;s error let Luis Romo roll into an empty net in the 50th minute. Hong Myung-Bo&#8217;s side were the better team for long stretches and will be frustrated by it. They know a draw is enough here, and their setup is built exactly for that kind of game.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Son Heung-Min leads the attack at 33 and still presses, reads space, and scores like someone a decade younger. Lee Kang-In at PSG adds direct creativity behind him, and when those two combine, South Korea are difficult to contain. Kim Min-Jae anchors the defence with the authority he shows at Bayern Munich \u2014 commanding in the air, rarely caught out.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Key player: Son Heung-Min \u2014 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is almost certainly Son&#8217;s final FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 campaign. He starts here with everything still to prove.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Head-to-Head\"><\/span><b>Head-to-Head<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Africa and South Korea have met just three times, most recently in a 2016 friendly, a 2-1 South Korea win. This is their first World Cup meeting. No shared history on the big stage, no psychological edge either way \u2014 just two points separating them, with everything on the line.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tactical_Preview\"><\/span><b>Tactical Preview<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Africa will sit compact and try to disrupt South Korea&#8217;s rhythm without Mokoena pressing high. Sithole and Mbatha provide defensive solidity in the engine room, though it&#8217;s a less dynamic pairing. Appollis and Maseko on the flanks are the primary transition outlets, with Foster as the direct target when Bafana win the ball back quickly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Korea can afford patience. Hong Myung-Bo&#8217;s setup protects the defensive shape and looks to spring Son and Lee Kang-In on the break. If South Africa push bodies forward in desperation, the space behind their full-backs becomes genuinely dangerous.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Storylines\"><\/span><b>Key Storylines<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Teboho Mokoena was South Africa&#8217;s most complete outfield player across both group matches. He scored the penalty that gave Bafana Bafana their first World Cup goal in 16 years, then picked up his second yellow of the tournament in the 33rd minute of that same game \u2014 one caution against Mexico, another against Czechia. Suspended for the fixture that matters most. There&#8217;s no simple replacement for what he brings.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mexico vs South Africa was one of the most chaotic opening matches in World Cup history \u2014 three red cards, South Africa finishing with nine men. Of the two Bafana players dismissed, Sphephelo Sithole returns after serving his one-match ban. Themba Zwane&#8217;s three-match suspension for violent conduct, which SAFA chose not to appeal, keeps him out for the entire group stage. South Africa are better resourced than in game two, but not yet whole.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is almost certainly the last FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 group fixture Son Heung-Min plays. He made his debut in 2014 and has carried Korean football ever since. He played 57 minutes against Mexico. He&#8217;ll want every minute here.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Our_Prediction\"><\/span><b>Our Prediction<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Africa&#8217;s desperation will produce early pressure, but motivation alone doesn&#8217;t replace Mokoena&#8217;s quality in midfield. South Korea&#8217;s defensive shape is hard to unlock, and Hong Myung-Bo&#8217;s side are well placed to absorb and hit on the counter. South Korea is expected to win this against South Africa.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><i>\u25ba Don&#8217;t miss a moment of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\">FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122<\/a> action. Stream live and on-demand on ZEE 5 \u2014 wherever you are in India. Download the ZEE 5 app today.<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disclaimer: Subscription pack prices are subject to change from time to time. Please visit the subscription page for the most up-to-date pricing information.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Group A | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey | Jun 25, 2026 | 6:30 AM IST &nbsp; Match Overview Group A concludes on June 25, with Mexico and Czechia playing out their own subplot simultaneously. Estadio BBVA decides second place. South Africa sits last in their group on one point, tied with Czechia and a goal difference [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":16129,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ub_ctt_via":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3019],"tags":[3031,3207,3322],"class_list":["post-16190","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fifa-world-cup-2026","tag-fifa-world-cup-2026","tag-group-a","tag-south-africa-vs-south-korea-preview"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1132x400-22-2.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Sourav K","author_link":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/author\/sourav-k\/"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122: South Africa vs South Korea Preview and Match Prediction - 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