🇿🇦South Africa

1. 1

   — ·

   at 🇲🇽Mexico ·Jun 11 L 0–2

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   Full time · The Report undone, not outclassed

   🇿🇦South Africa 0–2 🇲🇽Mexico

   For forty-nine minutes South Africa hung in this, conceding once early and holding Mexico to little. Then the afternoon unravelled: Siphephelo Sithole walked for a last-man foul, Themba Zwane followed for violent conduct, and a side reduced to nine could only watch Raul Jimenez make it two. They mustered just three shots, but two found the target and their goalkeeper kept Mexico to a single first-half goal before the numbers told. This was not a thrashing on the scoreboard. It was discipline, not quality, that beat them, and that one will sting longest.

   Goals 9' J. Quinones · 67' R. Jimenez

   xG 0.07–1.46 ·Poss 39% ·Shots 3 (2 on target) ·Corners 1 ·GK saves 2

2. 2

   Atlanta · Mercedes-Benz Stadium

   at 🇨🇿Czech Republic ·Jun 18 D 1–1

   320 m · 71k · retractable · 31°C

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   Full time · The Report Deserved the draw

   🇿🇦South Africa 1–1 🇨🇿Czech Republic

   Ranked fortieth by market value and a goal down inside six minutes, South Africa might have folded. Instead they took the game by the collar. Sixty-one percent of the ball, the better of the expected goals at 1.18 to 0.94, and a second half of steady pressure that finally told when Mokoena buried his penalty in the 83rd minute. The Czech Republic, higher-rated and ahead early, were grateful for the point. A draw rarely feels like a statement; this one did.

   Goals 6' M. Sadilek · 83' T. Mokoena (pen)

   xG 1.18–0.94 ·Poss 61% ·Shots 15

3. 3

   Monterrey · Estadio BBVA

   🇰🇷South Korea ·Jun 25 W 1–0

   540 m · 54k · open · 35°C 🔥

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   Full time · The Report Backs to the wall, and worth it

   🇿🇦South Africa 1–0 🇰🇷South Korea

   South Africa had thirty-two percent of the ball and barely seemed to mind. South Korea passed and probed and kept it for two-thirds of the night, but the expected-goals line came out almost level, 1.1 to 1.0, because South Africa carried the sharper edge on the break — thirteen shots to eight, and the one that counted. Teboho Maseko's hour-mark strike, laid on by Thabo Moremi, settled it. This was a smaller side defending a plan to the letter and trusting it. Possession is a number; the only one that pays sits on the scoreboard.

   Goals 63' T. Maseko

   xG 1.1–1 ·Poss 32% ·Shots 13 (4 on target) ·Corners 4 ·GK saves 2

4. 4

   Los Angeles · SoFi Stadium

   🇨🇦Canada ·Jun 28

   30 m · 70k · fixed · 27°C

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   Full time · The Report Heartbreak at the last

   🇿🇦South Africa 0–1 🇨🇦Canada

   South Africa came within seconds of extra time, and football can be cruel. Ranked fortieth in the field and given little chance against Canada, they defended with discipline and were superbly served by a goalkeeper who made five saves to keep them level deep into stoppage. Then Stephen Eustaquio struck, two minutes into added time, and a night of stubborn resistance ended in elimination. The expected-goals line of 1.32 to 0.13 says they rode their luck, but no one who watched them dig in will say they did not belong. Out, but unbowed.

   Goals 92' S. Eustaquio

   xG 0.13–1.32 ·Poss 58% ·Shots 6 (1 on target) ·Corners 1 ·GK saves 5

• 3,741km travelled
• 510m altitude swing
• 35°hottest · Monterrey

Tap “Read the report” on a finished match for what happened. Coordinates, elevation and climate are static estimates — not official FIFA data.