South Korean defender Kim Min-jae speaks at a press conference before his team's Group A match against South Africa at the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Estadio Monterrey in Guadalupe, Mexico, June 23. Yonhap
GUADALUPE — South Korean center back Kim Min-jae said Tuesday he and his teammates on defense must be on their toes against the highly skilled opponents of South Africa in their final Group A match of the FIFA World Cup.
South Korea and South Africa will clash at 7 p.m. Wednesday (local time) at Estadio Monterrey in Guadalupe, northeastern Mexico, with a knockout berth on the line. South Korea will advance with a win or a draw, and South Africa will move on if they beat South Korea and Czechia lose to Mexico on Wednesday.
"South African players have good skills, and they are also fast," Kim said at his prematch press conference. "We've been focusing on those areas during our preparation. But if we play the way we did in the two earlier matches, I think we should be able to come away with a win."
South Korea opened the tournament by beating Czechia 2-1 on June 11 but then lost to Mexico 1-0 seven days later.
