FIFA World Cup 2026 · Group A
South Africa — Round of 32 Qualification Scenarios
From 2026, the top 2 of each group go straight through, and the 8 best of the 12 third-placed teams also advance. See South Africa's current standing and qualification scenarios below, in your local time.
South Africa
👥 26 players
Runner-up — through to the Round of 32
✅ Can qualify on its ownGroup A standings
Tiebreaker: head-to-head first (2026 rule)
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | GD | Pts | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Mexico | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +6 | 9 | Qualified |
| 2 | South Africa | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 4 | Qualified |
| 3 |  South Korea | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -1 | 3 | Eliminated |
| 4 |  Czechia | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -4 | 1 | Eliminated |
South Africa fixtures
Times shown in your local time
MexicoSouth AfricaCzechiaSouth AfricaSouth AfricaSouth Korea👥 Squad (26)
Tournament squad · Source: Wikipedia (2026-06-04). The starting XI is announced just before each match.
GKGoalkeepers(3)
DFDefenders(10)
MFMidfielders(5)
FWForwards(8)
🔮 South Africa scenario simulator
Enter results to see how South Africa's position changes.
The group stage is over — no remaining matches to simulate.
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +6 | 9 |
| 2 | South Africa | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 4 |
| 3 | South Korea | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -1 | 3 |
| 4 | Czechia | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -4 | 1 |
FAQ
Where does South Africa need to finish to advance?
Finishing 1st or 2nd in the group means automatic qualification for the Round of 32. Even in 3rd place, South Africa can still advance if it ranks among the 8 best third-placed teams across all 12 groups.
Did the tiebreaker rules change for 2026?
Yes. From 2026, when teams are level on points, head-to-head results are applied before overall goal difference — the first such change in 56 years. All standings and scenarios here reflect this.
What time zone are the times in?
All kickoff times are converted to your device's local time automatically.