‘We shut up big mouths’: Broos savours emotional and historic World Cup day for Bafana

He fell to his knees as the final whistle echoed around Monterrey Stadium. For a brief moment, Hugo Broos looked overwhelmed by it all. Then came the celebrations. The embraces. The release.

Bafana Bafana had made history.

South Africa edged South Korea 1-0 on Thursday morning (SA time) to secure a place in the Round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup - the first time the men’s senior national team have progressed beyond the group stage, and only the country’s fourth appearance at the global showpiece since readmission in 1992.

Bafana finished second in Group A behind co-hosts Mexico, who completed a perfect group campaign with three wins from three matches.

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It is a remarkable turnaround for a side many had written off after a flat and disappointing 2-0 loss to Mexico in their tournament opener.

But Broos’ men refused to fold. They battled to a hard-fought draw against Czechia before arriving in Monterrey knowing victory over South Korea would likely send them through.

And when the moment arrived, they took it.

A second-half strike from Thapelo Maseko proved decisive as Bafana held their nerve to claim one of the most significant victories in the nation’s football history and book a long-awaited place in the knockout rounds.

“I think we played a very good game. Tactically, it was very good. Everyone did their job. The difference with our previous games was when we had the ball - we were dangerous. That was very important,” a relieved and elated Broos told a room filled with reporters.

“We had very quick players on the pitch, and we used them very well. We found the spaces at a good moment. And then you need that goal. We had some chances