liveUpdated 3m agoFollow live updates as South Africa bid to extend their World Cup involvement beyond this group-stage finale in Monterrey.The Athletic Live TeamJune 24, 2026 at 6:22 PM EDTSouth Africa trains on June 23 in preparation for their match against South Korea. Getty ImagesSouth Africa vs South Korea — LatestSouth Africa square off against South Korea in their final Group A fixture at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Mexico. All South Korea need to advance to the knockout stage is at least a draw against South Africa.Follow our writers for news, updates and analysis from kick-off to the final whistle.Time: 9 p.m. ET | 6 p.m. PTWatch: FS1 (U.S.), Fubo (try for free)Join the conversation at the Discuss tab or by emailing live@theathletic.comHow Group A looks entering final match day The AthleticGroup A enters its final matches today in an interesting place. On one hand, Mexico, one of the three host nations of this World Cup, are already through. They have clinched top spot in Group A with two victories.Second and third are still up for grabs. Finish second, and you are automatically into the round of 32. Finish third, and you need to be one of the eight best third-placed teams to reach the knockout stage.South Korea are in a good position. Win, and they guarantee second place in Group A. Even a draw against South Africa would be enough to send South Korea into the knockout stage on four points. That is because, even if the Czech Republic beat Mexico, South Korea would finish above the Czechs on the head-to-head tiebreaker after their 2-1 victory on the opening matchday.South Korea face elimination if they lose to South Africa. South Africa would move on to four points with a victory, while the Czech Republic could also reach four points if they beat Mexico. That would leave South Korea fourth and out of the World Cup.Safe to say, this match is massive.Subscribe to The Athletic The AthleticThis is the best time of year on the sports calendar. There is no better time to have a subscription to The Athletic than now. The World Cup is cracking on, with the knockout stage on the horizon. The NBA and NHL offseasons are in full swing. Don’t forget about Wimbledon, the Open Championship and Formula 1 races upcoming. Subscribe here to The Athletic for the highest quality of sports journalism.Join the conversation! Getty ImagesIt’s the final match day of Group A fixtures. And we’d love to hear from YOU. Yes, you, dear reader, who is watching this South Africa and South Korea match, wherever you are in the world. Which player will have the best match? Can South Korea get to the knockout stage or can South African play spoiler? Join the conversation in the discuss tab or email us at live@theathletic.com. The best answers and submissions will be featured in our live coverage. How to watch South Africa-South Korea? Getty ImagesYou can watch South Africa-South Korea in their final Group A fixture on FS1 in the U.S., BBC in the U.K. and TSN+ in Canada. What time is kick-off? Getty ImagesKick-off for South Africa and South Korea is 9 p.m. ET. That is 6 p.m. PT, 7 p.m. local time, or 2 a.m. in the U.K. Welcome to our live coverage Getty ImagesHello, and welcome to The Athletic’s live coverage of today’s Group A fixture at the World Cup between South Africa and South Korea.South Africa are still searching for their first win at this World Cup. After falling 2-0 to Mexico in the opening match of the tournament, South Africa drew 1-1 with the Czech Republic in their second group-stage fixture.South Korea, meanwhile, are in the driver’s seat to reach the knockout stage. After a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic, South Korea fell 1-0 to Mexico, a result that earned El Tri a place in the knockouts.Can South Korea earn a place in the round of 32, or will South Africa have something to say about that? Follow our live coverage of today’s fixture, including pre-match buildup, team news, play-by-play commentary and post-match reaction.