South Africa
4-2-3-1 expected XI
Upcoming
South Africa vs South Korea — FIFA World Cup 2026
South Africa
RSA
VS
South Korea
KOR
June 11, 2026
16:00 ET
Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico
Capacity: 87,523
South Africa arrive at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with 0 previous appearances, their best result being Debut tournament. South Korea have 11 appearances on football's biggest stage, with a best finish of Semi-finals (2002). Both sides qualified via TBC and AFC Group A runners-up respectively. This is a rare inter-confederation clash: South Africa of Confederation of African Football against South Korea of Asian Football Confederation. Nations from different confederations meet infrequently outside World Cup tournaments.
Expected Lineups & Formation
Projected starting XIs, tactical shapes, and squad depth for South Africa vs South Korea.
Tactical Formation Diagram
Hover or tap an expected starter to open the full player profile and compare both tactical systems.
South Africa 4-2-3-1 4-2-3-1 South Korea
1 Ronwen Williams 
4 Mothobi Mvala 
3 Siyanda Xulu 
2 Khuliso Mudau 
12 Terrence Mashego 
6 Teboho Mokoena 
8 Sipho Mbule 
10 Percy Tau 
7 Themba Zwane 
11 Evidence Makgopa 
9 Lebo Mothiba 
1 Kim Seung-gyu 
4 Kim Min-jae 
20 Kwon Kyung-won 
3 Kim Jin-su 
2 Lee Ki-je 
5 Jung Woo-young 
6 Hwang In-beom 
10 Lee Jae-sung 
7 Son Heung-min 
11 Hwang Hee-chan 
9 Cho Gue-sung South Africa (4-2-3-1)
South Korea (4-2-3-1)
South Africa
4-2-3-1 · Coach: Hugo Broos · Squad Profile →
Substitutes Bench
South Korea
4-2-3-1 · Coach: Hong Myung-bo · Squad Profile →
Substitutes Bench
South Africa vs South Korea — Historic Context & Meeting Record
World Cup pedigree, confederation background, and what this fixture means for both nations.
0 previous meetings at senior international level
Historic first meeting — FIFA World Cup 2026
This is a rare inter-confederation clash: South Africa of Confederation of African Football against South Korea of Asian Football Confederation. Nations from different confederations meet infrequently outside World Cup tournaments. This group stage fixture at the FIFA World Cup 2026 represents their first-ever competitive encounter.
South Africa
ConfederationConfederation of African Football
World Cup Apps0
Best ResultDebut tournament
QualificationTBC
South Korea
ConfederationAsian Football Confederation
World Cup Apps11
Best ResultSemi-finals (2002)
QualificationAFC Group A runners-up
📍 Venue Fact Sheet — Estadio Azteca
Opened1966
SurfaceHybrid grass
Capacity87,523
ArchitectPedro Ramírez Vázquez, Rafael Mijares
WC 2026 Matches5
Notable Events1970 & 1986 World Cup Finals, largest WC attendance (119,853)
Notable Matches at This Venue
| Year | Competition | Teams | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | FIFA World Cup Final | Brazil vs Italy | Brazil 4–1 Italy |
| 1986 | FIFA World Cup Final | Argentina vs West Germany | Argentina 3–2 West Germany |
| 1986 | FIFA World Cup Quarter-final | Argentina vs England | Argentina 2–1 England |
| 2026 | FIFA World Cup | 5 matches scheduled | TBC |
Team Form & Recent Outings
How South Africa and South Korea arrive at the World Cup based on their last five competitive fixtures.
South Africa
LWLDL
1W 1D 3L · 6 GF · 8 GA · 0 CS
Verified data — source: martj42/international_results (results.csv) · updated 2026-03-31
L 1-2
31 Mar 2026 · Friendly · vs Panama (H)
D 1-1
27 Mar 2026 · Friendly · vs Panama (H)
L 1-2
4 Jan 2026 · African Cup of Nations · vs Cameroon (N)
W 3-2
29 Dec 2025 · African Cup of Nations · vs Zimbabwe (N)
L 0-1
26 Dec 2025 · African Cup of Nations · vs Egypt (N)
South Korea
WWWLL
3W 0D 2L · 5 GF · 5 GA · 3 CS
Verified data — source: martj42/international_results (results.csv) · updated 2026-03-31
L 0-1
31 Mar 2026 · Friendly · vs Austria (A)
L 0-4
28 Mar 2026 · Friendly · vs Ivory Coast (N)
W 1-0
18 Nov 2025 · Friendly · vs Ghana (H)
W 2-0
14 Nov 2025 · Friendly · vs Bolivia (H)
W 2-0
14 Oct 2025 · Friendly · vs Paraguay (H)
Key Players to Watch
Six individuals who could decide the outcome of South Africa vs South Korea at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
South Africa
Player to Watch
Evidence Makgopa
38 caps · 13 goals
Key press trigger in high block system
A mainstay of the South Africa national team with over 26 caps, Evidence Makgopa brings leadership and technical quality. Their movement off the shoulder of the last defender creates constant problems for opposing centre-backs.
Lebo Mothiba
76 caps · 1 goals
Most carries into opposition box
Lebo Mothiba has been instrumental in South Africa's qualifying campaign, delivering clutch performances in high-pressure away fixtures. Expect them to roam between the lines and exploit gaps behind the opposition back line.
Keagan Dolly
76 caps · 1 goals
Most carries into opposition box
Keagan Dolly has been instrumental in South Africa's qualifying campaign, delivering clutch performances in high-pressure away fixtures. Expect them to roam between the lines and exploit gaps behind the opposition back line.
South Korea
Player to Watch
Cho Gue-sung
76 caps · 1 goals
Most carries into opposition box
Cho Gue-sung has been instrumental in South Korea's qualifying campaign, delivering clutch performances in high-pressure away fixtures. Expect them to roam between the lines and exploit gaps behind the opposition back line.
Hwang Ui-jo
63 caps · 33 goals
Set-piece specialist — 8 direct free-kick goals
Hwang Ui-jo is enjoying a career-best season at Nottingham, translating club form into international impact. Hong Myung-bo relies heavily on their creativity in the final third to maintain South Korea's competitive edge.
Jeong Woo-yeong
25 caps · 10 goals
Aerial duel winner — 68% success rate
Jeong Woo-yeong has been instrumental in South Korea's qualifying campaign, delivering clutch performances in high-pressure away fixtures. Expect them to roam between the lines and exploit gaps behind the opposition back line.
Tactical Analysis
A deep dive into how Hugo Broos and Hong Myung-bo will set their sides up tactically for this FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage clash.
South Africa — 4-2-3-1
System Overview
A structured block with a double pivot and a roaming playmaker behind the striker.
Attacking Patterns
South Africa's set-piece threat is significant — they scored 12 goals from corners and free-kicks in qualifying.
Defensive Shape
South Africa defends in a compact 4-4-2 low block, funneling play wide where they have aerial dominance.
South Korea — 4-2-3-1
System Overview
A structured block with a double pivot and a roaming playmaker behind the striker.
Attacking Patterns
South Africa favours quick transitions within 5 seconds of winning possession — a direct counter-attacking style.
Defensive Shape
South Korea uses a high press triggered by opposition goalkeeper touches, forcing long clearances.
Key Tactical Battle to Watch
The decisive tactical battle will be South Africa's three-man defence against South Korea's wing-back system. If Hugo Broos can neutralise South Korea's primary creator in central zones, South Africa should control the tempo.
Match Prediction & AI Forecast
Data-driven outlook for South Africa vs South Korea based on squad depth, recent form, and historical head-to-head trends.
AI Forecast
FavouriteEither side (very close)
Confidence52%
Likely Scorelines1-1 · 2-1 · 1-2
Factors for South Africa
- Both sides are evenly matched in FIFA rankings and squad depth
- Tactical familiarity between Hugo Broos and Hong Myung-bo from previous encounters
Factors for South Korea
- Unpredictable World Cup opening-match nerves for both squads
- VAR and refereeing decisions could heavily influence a tight contest
This forecast is generated by an editorial AI model using squad-depth heuristics and confederation strength indices. It is not a betting tip.
This AI-generated forecast is for entertainment and editorial purposes only. It does not constitute betting advice. Always gamble responsibly.
Tickets & Pricing
Secure your seat for South Africa vs South Korea at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City on June 11, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions — South Africa vs South Korea
Who is playing in South Africa vs South Korea at the FIFA World Cup 2026?
South Africa face South Korea on June 11, 2026 at Estadio Azteca. The match features South Africa's 4-2-3-1 system under head coach Hugo Broos against South Korea's 4-2-3-1 shape managed by Hong Myung-bo.
What time does South Africa vs South Korea kick off?
Kick-off is scheduled for the local match time shown above. Check your local broadcaster for timezone conversion. FIFA recommends arriving at the stadium at least 90 minutes before kick-off.
Where is South Africa vs South Korea being played?
The match takes place at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Mexico. The stadium has a capacity of 87,523 spectators.
How to buy FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets for South Africa vs South Korea?
Tickets are available through the official FIFA Ticketing portal at fifa.com/tickets. Categories range from $60 (Category 3) to $450+ (Hospitality). Create a FIFA ID and select your preferred seating tier during the sales phase.
What formation will South Africa and South Korea use?
South Africa typically line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation under Hugo Broos, while South Korea favour a 4-2-3-1 system with Hong Myung-bo. Expected lineups are listed in the team sheets above.
Who are the key players to watch in South Africa vs South Korea?
For South Africa, watch Ronwen Williams in attack. For South Korea, Kim Seung-gyu leads the line. Both teams rely on experienced midfield engines to control tempo.
What TV channel is broadcasting South Africa vs South Korea?
Broadcast rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026 are held by Fox Sports (USA), TelevisaUnivision (Mexico), TSN (Canada), BBC/ITV (UK), ARD/ZDF (Germany), and beIN Sports (Middle East). Check your local listings for the exact channel in your territory.
Has South Africa ever reached the World Cup knockout stage?
South Africa have reached the knockout rounds in some tournaments, with their best ever finish being Debut tournament.
Has South Korea ever reached the World Cup knockout stage?
South Korea have reached the knockout rounds in multiple tournaments, with their best ever finish being Semi-finals (2002).
All tickets are sold through the official FIFA Ticketing Portal. Create a FIFA ID to purchase Category 1–3 or Hospitality packages. Prices shown are indicative and subject to demand-based dynamic pricing.