2026 World Cup Group A: South Africa vs South Korea Preview, Odds and Predictions (June 24)
- When: Wednesday, June 24, 2026. 9:00 PM ET
- Where: Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe, Mexico
- How to Watch: FS1
The 2026 World Cup starts the third round of matches with the final matchup in Group A getting underway in Guadalupe as South Africa battles with South Korea. These two squads will likely be in direct competition for a qualifying spot in the group, meaning that there will be pressure on both nations on MD3.
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South Africa Stats & Team News
South Africa remains alive in the Group A race despite only having one point after one draw and one loss in two matches. They lost 2-0 to Mexico in the tournament opener, but persevered in a 1-1 draw against Czechia. They used a valuable goal from Teboho Mokoena for their first score since the 2010 World Cup.
South Africa requires a win to punch its ticket to the Round of 32, as a draw won’t be enough to guarantee their place in the next round. They will need to have their best offensive performance to put pressure on South Korea, who are also hoping to avoid a difficult bracket in the knockout stage.
Likely Lineup:
(4-3-3) Williams (GK); Mudau, Okon, Mbokazi, Modiba; Mbatha, Sithole, Adams; Maseko, Rayners, Appollis
South Korea Stats & Team News
South Korea sits at second place in the Group A standings after one win and one loss in two matches. They stunned Czechia in a 2-1 victory in their group opener before falling 1-0 to hosts Mexico in Matchday 2. While their place in the Round of 32 is close to being secure, they would at least want a draw to fully punch their ticket.
The Koreans possess balance in multiple areas but will have to be explosive on the attack to expose South Africa’s defensive weaknesses. This is where Son Heung-Min comes in, searching for his first goal of the tournament as his nation will need him to be assertive with his playmaking.
Likely Lineup:
(3-4-2-1) S.G. Kim (GK) H.B. Lee, M.J. Kim, G.H. Lee; M.H. Kim, Hwang, Paik, Seol; K.I. Lee, J.S. Lee; Son
Head-to-Head Stats
- This is the first all-time meeting between South Africa and South Korea.
- This marks the first competitive meeting between the nations.
South Africa vs. South Korea World Cup Picks
This game will be a tossup given the different stakes for both teams. That being said, South Korea stands out as the general favorite by having the better overall talent on the pitch. South Africa seeks its first appearance in the knockouts, an objective that the Koreans will make difficult throughout the group finale. It would be safe to believe that South Korea takes this one by a 2-1 score.
