South Korea's World Cup Hopes Hang in Balance After Shock Loss to South Africa
GUADALUPE, Mexico — South Korea's path to the knockout stage at the FIFA World Cup took a dramatic turn on Wednesday as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to South Africa in their final Group A match at Estadio Monterrey. The loss, which came on a 63rd-minute goal by Thapelo Maseko, left the Taegeuk Warriors in third place with three points, forcing them to wait anxiously on results from other groups to see if they will advance as one of the eight best third-place teams.
The result was a stark contrast to the team's opening performance, where they rallied to beat Czechia 2-1. However, a subsequent 1-0 loss to Mexico and this latest setback have put their campaign on the brink. South Korea needed only a draw against South Africa to secure automatic advancement, but they displayed what Yonhap News described as a "lackluster" and shocking lack of urgency, failing to respond after falling behind.
Head coach Hong Myung-bo made a bold decision before the match, holding captain Son Heung-min out of the starting lineup for the first time in his World Cup career. Son had started all 12 of his previous World Cup matches, dating back to his debut in 2014, but after failing to score in the first two games and being substituted on both occasions, Hong opted to start Oh Hyeon-gyu in his place. The move did little to spark the attack, as Oh was barely visible in a goalless first half.
South Korea did create an early chance when center back Kim Min-jae, serving as stand-in captain, headed a cross from Lee Kang-in just two minutes into the match, but they could not convert their opportunities. The team's inability to find the back of the net proved costly when Maseko broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute.
The defeat leaves South Korea in third place in Group A, with their hopes of advancing now dependent on the outcomes of other groups. With the expanded 48-team tournament, the eight best third-place teams from the 12 groups will progress to the round of 32. South Korea's fate is now in the hands of results from Groups J, K, and L, which are set to conclude on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Mexico secured their place in the knockout stage with a 3-0 victory over Czechia, finishing the group stage with a perfect record. The win pushed Mexico to the top of Group A, while South Korea slipped to third, behind South Africa on goal difference.
Yonhap's reports highlighted the disappointment of the South Korean camp, with players apologizing to fans and acknowledging the team's poor performance. "We apologize to the fans," said Kim Min-jae, who captained the side in Son's absence. "We didn't show what we had prepared. We have to put this behind us and wait for the other results." The team now faces an anxious wait, with their World Cup dreams hanging by a thread.