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South Africa stun South Korea to make World Cup history

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 South African players celebrate the 1-0 victory in the 2026 World Cup Group A match vs South Korea at the Monterrey Stadium in Guadalupe, Mexico, on June 24, 2026. [Julio Cesar AGUILAR / AFP)

South Africa beat South Korea 1-0 on Wednesday to reach the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time in their history -- an astonishing turnaround after a dismal opening defeat.

The Bafana Bafana, playing in a World Cup for the first time since they hosted it in 2010, were widely written off after their 2-0 loss to Group A winners Mexico in the tournament's curtainraiser.

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