South Africa vs Korea Republic Preview: Team News & Prediction | FIFA World Cup 2026 | Group Stage
by The Stats Zone ·
Updated
In the final round of fixtures in Group A, this is a huge game in Monterrey in Mexico as South Africa and Korea Republic both bid to reach the knockout stages of FIFA World Cup 2026.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – BBC / USA – FOX Sports
How to watch online: UK – BBC iPlayer & the BBC Sport website & app / USA – FOX One
South Africa preview: Bafana Bafana in the hunt
South Africa have given themselves a chance of securing knockout football at FIFA World Cup 2026 with Bafana Bafana needing a win, having collected a point from their opening two matches - a decent return considering they began with a 2-0 loss against co-hosts Mexico in Mexico City in a game in which they looked very poor and went down to nine men.
They didn't necessarily show too much improved quality in their second game against Czechia last week, but they did manage to snatch an important point against the Czechs in Atlanta, with Michal Sadilek's early opener being cancelled out by a Teboho Mokoena penalty late on in the second half for the South Africans.
Korea Republic preview: In the balance
Korea Republic headed into FIFA World Cup 2026 with a bit of concern about their performance level from the last nine months or so but fears were calmed in their opener as they came from behind to defeat Czechia by two goals to one, courtesy of goals from Hwang In-beom and Oh Hyeon-gyu.
The Koreans didn't manage to wrap up knockout qualification in their second game with a fairly uneventful clash against co-hosts Mexico leading to a 1-0 loss, with Luis Romo taking advantage of a Kim Seung-gyu mistake in the second half to inflict a potentially pivotal loss upon the Koreans in Guadalajara.
South Africa team news: Mokoena suspended
Key midfielder Teboho Mokoena, scorer of Bafana Bafana's equaliser against Czechia, is now missing through suspension after picking up a couple of yellow cards already.
Attacking midfielder Themba Zwane remains suspended, too, after a red card in his opening game, while Sphephelo Sithole has now returned from his suspension.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Williams; Mudau, Okon, Mbokazi, Modiba; Mbatha, Sithole; Maseko, Adams, Appollis; Foster
Unavailable: Mokoena (Suspended), Zwane (Suspended)
Questionable:
Korea Republic team news: Fully-fit
Hong Myung-bo has a fully-fit and available squad for this one but he is under a bit of pressure to make a call on Son Heung-min, who has struggled in 2026 for club and country, although him being dropped remains unlikely.
Kim Moon-hwan came in to start for their second game ahead of Lee Tae-seok, who has returned to full fitness. Paik Seung-ho is expected to start in midfield alongside Hwang In-beom and in behind Lee Kang-in and Lee Jae-sung. Jo Hyeon-woo may be considered to replace Kim Seung-gyu in goal after the latter's mistake against Mexico, although, again, that does appear unlikely.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Kim S.G.; Lee H.B., Kim M.J., Lee G.H.; Seol, Hwang I.B., Paik, Kim M.H.; Lee J.S., Lee K.I.; Son
Unavailable:
Questionable:
South Africa’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Aubrey Modiba ($3.7m) – Defender
Ime Okon ($3.5m) – Defender
Jayden Adams ($4.0m) – Midfielder
Matchday 3 captain pick: Jayden Adams
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Oswin Appollis
Free kicks: Oswin Appollis
Corners: Oswin Appollis, Relebohile Mofokeng
Korea Republic’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Kim Min-Jae ($5.0m) – Defender
Lee Kang-in ($6.1m) – Midfielder
Son Heung-min ($7.4m) – Forward
Matchday 3 captain pick: Son Heung-Min
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Son Heung-Min
Free kicks: Son Heung-Min
Corners: Son Heung-Min, Lee Kang-in
Key stats
- This is the first meeting between South Africa and Korea Republic.
- South Africa’s only previous World Cup match against an AFC team was a 2-2 draw with Saudi Arabia in the 1998 group stage.
- None of South Africa’s 11 previous World Cup matches have finished goalless.
- South Africa are aiming to reach the knockout rounds for the first time having exited after the group stage in the three previous participations (1998, 2002 and 2010).
- There have been a total of 18 goals scored in Korea Republic’s previous four World Cup matches against African teams, an average of 4.5 goals per match.
- Korea Republic are aiming to qualify for the knockout phase for the fourth time having done so previously in 2002, 2010 and 2022. This would be the first time they have qualified from the group stage in successive editions.
- Korea Republic have won their final group fixture at the last two World Cups, defeating Germany 2-0 in 2018 and beating Portugal 2-1 in 2022.
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South Africa vs Korea Republic prediction
Hugo Broos has a South Africa side that have previously played quite a proactive and fun style of football but nerves and a slight tactical tweak to become more conservative and reactive has undermined those pre-tournament expectations.
They now face a Korean side that have issues to deal with, both in terms of the consistency of their performance level and some big-name personnel, but they have played the better and more convincing football of the two sides.
It could become a desperate and end-to-end affair late on given what is on the line but the Koreans are a better side and they should be backed to bounce back from a frustrating loss on Matchday 2.
South Africa vs Korea Republic betting tip: Korea Republic to win
