As the race to grab the knockout slots at the ongoing FFIA World Cup 2026 hots up, South Africa became the latest team to enter the Round of 32 on Wednesday (June 24).

So far, 12 teams, including defending champions Argentina, are through to the knockout stage of the tournament.

In the 48-team tournament, there are 12 groups of four nations each and the top two in each group, plus the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to the round of 32.

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On Wednesday, South Africa advanced to the knockout phase for the first time with a 1-0 victory over South Korea.

SA vs Canada in Round of 32 opener

Thapelo Maseko scored in the 63rd minute off a precise cross from Tshepang Moremi and South Africa finished in second place in Group A behind Mexico, which won all three of its group-stage games.

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South Africa will take on Canada, the second-place finisher in Group B, in a knockout game Sunday (June 28) at Inglewood, California.

Tie-breaking rules for groups

According to FIFA, if two or more teams in the same group are equal on points after the completion of the group stage, the following criteria, in the order below, shall be applied to determine the ranking:

Step one

greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned

superior goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned

greatest number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned

If no decision can be made through this procedure, the criteria below shall apply as follows to the two or more teams still equal on points:

Step two

superior goal difference in all group matches

greatest number of goals scored in all group matches

highest team conduct score (players and team officials) relating to the number of yellow and red cards obtained

If no decision can be made through the procedures of step one and two above, the following shall apply:

Step three

the two or more teams still equal on points shall be ranked according to the most recent published edition of the FIFA/Coca‑Cola Men’s World Ranking

The teams that have qualified for FIFA World Cup 2026 knockouts (Round of 32)

Group A

Mexico, South Africa

Group B

Canada, Switzerland

Group C

Brazil, Morocco

Group D

USA

Group E

Germany

Group I

France, Norway

Group J

Argentina

Group K

Colombia