South Africa beats South Korea, advances to knockout stage
South Africa defeats South Korea to advance; Mexico and Brazil also perform strongly on Matchday 14.
Thursday, June 25, 2026
South Africa beats South Korea, advances to knockout stage — Thursday, June 25, 2026
South Africa advances after beating South Korea; Portugal defeats Uzbekistan 5-0; Japan vs Sweden group stage match set for today in Dallas. The 2026 World Cup is in its second week, with the group stage entering its final round and the 32‑team knockout bracket set to begin on June 28; several matches today will decide which third‑place teams advance.
Biggest developments
Portugal 5-0 Uzbekistan highlights
Cristiano Ronaldo, Nuno Mendes and Rafael Leao score in Portugal's group stage win.
Japan vs Sweden group stage matchup today
Japan faces Sweden at 6:00 PM CT in Dallas Stadium as part of ongoing group stage.
Important posts & threads
Morocco 4-2 Haiti full time
FIFA World Cup 2026 Full-time Morocco 4 Haiti 2
Sweden and Japan ready for key duel
🇸🇪🇯🇵⚔️ ¡TODO LISTO PARA UN DUELO CLAVE! Suecia y Japón se preparan para un enfrentamiento que promete emociones en el cierre de la fase de grupos.
World Cup 2026 trophy presentation to Trump
World Cup 2026 ge Trophy Havaalukurumuge Sharafu Trump ah dheyn FIFA in Nimmaifi
Bullish takes
- Group‑stage scoring has been high, with 141 goals in the first 48 matches, suggesting attacking quality and strong fan engagement.
Critical takes
- Several traditional powers remain in tight qualification battles for the round of 32, raising the risk of early exits and potential fan‑market disappointment.
Why this matters
Ongoing group stage results determine knockout qualifiers ahead of host nation matches.