South Africa vs South Korea — Live Score, How to Watch & Preview

South Africa vs South Korea kicks off in GROUP A of the 2026 World Cup. Below you’ll find the live score, the kickoff time in your own timezone, exactly where to watch in every country, the full head-to-head record and the key players to watch.

Match preview

South Africa and South Korea meet in Group A of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with both sides aiming to advance from a group that also features heavyweights Brazil and Serbia. South Africa, returning to the World Cup for the first time since 2010, rely on a disciplined defensive structure and rapid counter-attacks. Under coach Hugo Broos, Bafana Bafana have shown resilience, with a strong midfield anchored by Teboho Mokoena and the creative spark of Percy Tau. Their recent form has been mixed, but they will be buoyed by a solid defensive record in qualifying. South Korea, perennial World Cup participants, possess a blend of European-based talent and domestic stars. Coach Jürgen Klinsmann has instilled a high-pressing, possession-based style, with Son Heung-min leading the line. The Koreans are dangerous from set pieces and have pace on the flanks through Lee Kang-in. Key battles will be in midfield, where South Africa's physicality meets Korea's technical ability. South Africa need to contain Son and exploit set-piece opportunities, while South Korea must break down a compact defense. Both teams will see this as a winnable match, crucial for progression hopes.

Key players to watch

South Africa

Percy Tau (Al Ahly) — The creative hub, capable of unlocking defenses with dribbling and precise passes.
Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns) — Midfield engine, breaks up play and distributes effectively.
Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns) — Reliable goalkeeper, crucial for organizing defense and making key saves.

South Korea

Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur) — Captain and talisman, lethal finisher and creator from wide areas.
Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) — Creative midfielder with excellent dribbling and set-piece delivery.
Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) — Dominant center-back, strong in duels and reads the game well.

How to watch South Africa vs South Korea — by country

Kickoff is … in your local time. Here’s the official broadcaster and stream in each country:

Australia

Australia: SBS has exclusive rights and is keeping the whole tournament free. All 104 matches air live and free on SBS, SBS Viceland and SBS On Demand — no subscription needed.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh: A consortium of state broadcaster BTV, T Sports and Star News has secured the rights (confirmed days before kickoff after an earlier deal collapsed). Matches air live on BTV (free-to-air), with T Sports and Star News on cable and the T Sports app/website for streaming. As terms were only just finalised, confirm exact channel splits with local listings.

Brazil

Brazil: Grupo Globo carries every Brazil match, the final and half the remaining games across TV Globo, SporTV and Globoplay. CazéTV streams all 104 matches live and free in 4K on YouTube, and free-to-air channel SBT shows a selection including Brazil games and knockouts. Easiest free option: CazéTV on YouTube.

Canada

Canada: Bell Media is the official broadcaster. All 104 matches air on TSN (English) and RDS (French) via cable, with select games — including Canada's matches, the opener and the final — free over the air on CTV. Stream on TSN+, the RDS app, or Crave.

Germany

Germany: Deutsche Telekom''s MagentaTV holds rights to all 104 matches (44 exclusive), requiring a subscription. ARD and ZDF each show 30 matches free-to-air — including all Germany games, the opening match, semi-finals and final — on TV and their online streams.

India

India: Zee Entertainment holds the official rights. All 104 matches air on the new Unite8 Sports 1/1 HD (Hindi) and Unite8 Sports 2/2 HD (English) TV channels, and stream on ZEE5 (paid subscription, from about Rs 799 for 3 months). There is no free-to-air option, so a ZEE5 plan or a TV pack carrying Unite8 Sports is needed.

FAQ

When is South Africa vs South Korea?

Thu, Jun 25 at 01:00 AM UTC — shown in your local time on this page — in GROUP A of the 2026 World Cup.

How can I watch South Africa vs South Korea?

Through the official 2026 World Cup broadcaster in your country — for example BBC/ITV (UK, free), Fox & Telemundo (USA), beIN Sports (Middle East), SBS (Australia, free). See the full country-by-country guide on this page.