local
South Africa reaches World Cup knockout round for 1st time with 1-0 win over South Korea
By Maya Koluder-Ramirez, Associated Press at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate)
· June 25, 2026
· 3 min read
South Africa advanced to the knockout phase of the World Cup for the first time with a 1-0 victory over South Korea on Wednesday night.Thapelo Maseko scored in the 63rd minute off a precise cross from Tshepang Moremi and South Africa finished in second place in Group A behind Mexico, which won al...
Key takeaway Thapelo Maseko scored in the 63rd minute off a precise cross from Tshepang Moremi and South Africa finished in second place in Group A behind Mexico, which won all three of its group-stage games.
Why this matters in The San Antonio
San Antonio 's diverse community, with a strong presence of international residents, is likely to take notice of South Africa's historic World Cup win. The city's own experience with hosting international sports events, such as the NCAA Men's Final Four, demonstrates its capacity to bring people together around major athletic competitions. As South Africa prepares to face Canada in the knockout round, San Antonio's soccer fans may find themselves drawn to the underdog story of Bafana Bafana, and local sports bars and restaurants could see an uptick in interest as the tournament progresses. The victory may also spark renewed interest in local soccer leagues and youth programs, as young players in San Antonio look to emulate the success of Thapelo Maseko and his teammates. With the knockout game set to take place in California, San Antonio fans will be watching from afar, eager to see how South Africa's Cinderella story unfolds.
About this story
Original reporting by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) . The San Antonio surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 25, 2026 ·
Source: KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) ·
Reading time: 3 min
Get more The San Antonio stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering local and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? South Africa advanced to the knockout phase of the World Cup for the first time with a 1-0 victory over South Korea on Wednesday night.Thapelo Maseko scored in the 63rd minute off a precise cross from Tshepang Moremi and South Africa finished in second place in Group A behind Mexico, which won al...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 25, 2026 by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) and curated for The San Antonio readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Maya Koluder-Ramirez, Associated Press at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate). To learn more about how The San Antonio selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The San Antonio, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More local →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter