South Africa vs Korea Republic Preview: Team News & Prediction | FIFA World Cup 2026 | Group Stage
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 - which is a decent return considering they began with a 2-0 loss 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 off a Kim Seung-gyu mistake in the second half to inflict a potentially pivotal loss upon the Koreans in Guadalajara.
South Africa team news
Further team news will appear here closer to the match after pre-match press conferences...
Predicted XI (X-X-X-X): TBC
Unavailable: TBC
Questionable: TBC
Korea Republic team news
Further team news will appear here closer to the match after pre-match press conferences...
Predicted XI (X-X-X-X): TBC
Unavailable: TBC
Questionable: TBC
South Africa’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Aubrey Modiba ($3.7m) – Defender
Teboho Mokoena ($4.3m) – Midfielder
Lyle Foster ($5.4m) – Forward
Matchday 3 captain pick: Lyle Foster
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Tehobo Mokoena, 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
- Coming soon
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 the other day.
South Africa vs Korea Republic betting tip: Korea Republic to win
