Read 3 minutes25 Jun 2026 12:06 PM IST
Seconds after the final whistle blew in Monterrey, Mexico, people took to the streets thousands of kilometers away under dark skies in South Africa as their soccer team advanced to the group stages of the FIFA World Cup for the first time. The victory was made even sweeter by the fact that they beat South Korea, who are 26 places above Bafana Bafana in the world rankings.
Thapelo Maseko scored in the 63rd minute to give South Africa the lead. After that, South Korea had most of the ball but struggled to create any clear-cut chances and challenge South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams. There was a late header from Park Jin-seob that was saved by Williams and when the final whistle blew, the South Africans came onto the pitch from the bench while those who were playing fell to their knees.
Social media was flooded with videos of people dancing on the streets back home in South Africa early in the day. The time difference meant that the sun was supposed to be rising in South Africa when the match took place but, judging by the visuals on social media, it didn’t matter much.
“South Africa won’t win a single match.”
We at 5 am ????????????
Round of 32: Here comes South Africa. ????#FIFAWorldCup #BafnaBafna pic.twitter.com/kdk2GzZYgW
— Steven Plug ???? (@stevestansa) 25 June 2026
South Africa?
what country man????????????#FWC26 #Bafs pride #BafnaBafna pic.twitter.com/vz1G9n6r7y— ??usinazo?? (@UsinazoKhumalo) 25 June 2026
It was at 5 am. ????????? On South Africa ????????? https://t.co/SfZyQFD90X pic.twitter.com/rfH8SgbszS
— Dikonketšo ????????? (@ketso28) 25 June 2026
The dawn and roads of South Africa are already alive.
History made, emotion everywhere and that’s why football means so much. #WorldCupwithMicky#FIFAWorldCup#BafnaBafna pic.twitter.com/ARTuvBel94
— Micky Jnr (@MickyJnr__) 25 June 2026
South African head coach Hugo Bruce, a gray legend, broke down in tears after the match. “It was an emotional moment. We came here to Mexico and we wanted to survive the group stage… and it was a really emotional moment for me, not only because we won the game, but also because, as I’ve said in the past, it might be the last game of my career,” he said.
The 74-year-old, who was part of the Belgium team that finished fourth at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, had said before the tournament that he would then retire. The final match of his managerial career will be against Korea given the gulf in individual quality between the two teams, and South Africa will be expected to finish as underdogs in a group that includes Mexico.
Instead, Bruce will now lead his team to face Canada in the Round of 32 in Los Angeles on June 29. Wednesday’s victory made him the oldest manager to win a match in FIFA World Cup history.