Teboho Mokoena #4 of South Africa celebrates after scoring a penalty for his team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A match between Czechia and South Africa at Atlanta Stadium on June 18, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. Picture: Lars Baron/Getty Images/AFP
Image: Lars Baron/Getty Images/AFP
While a draw against Czechia in their second Fifa World Cup Group A match on Thursday was less than ideal, all is not lost for Bafana Bafana and a loss would have almost certainly meant they would make it to the next round.
Bafana dominated many of the key statistics, including 61% possession in Atlanta, but once again conceded inside the opening 10 minutes.
They eventually equalised through a Teboho Mokoena penalty in the 83rd minute, but the single point leaves plenty of work to do heading into their final group match.
Bafana remain bottom of Group A with a goal difference of minus two. They are level on points with Czechia, who have a superior goal difference of minus one. South Korea sit second on three points, while Mexico top the group on six points after beating South Korea 1-0 in the early hours of Friday morning.
As things stand, Czechia are projected to progress to the Round of 32 as one of the eight best third-placed teams. However, that could change dramatically as only the teams in Groups A and B have played two matches, while the rest of the tournament has completed just one round of fixtures.
All that remains for Bafana is a final group-stage clash against South Korea in six days’ time.
Should Bafana lose, there is still a slim possibility they could finish third. For that to happen, Czechia would need to lose to Mexico and end with an inferior goal difference to South Africa.
With both final Group A matches kicking off simultaneously at 3am SA time on June 25, there will be little opportunity to track the various permutations as they unfold.
At the very least, Bafana need a draw against South Korea. That would move them onto two points and above Czechia if the Europeans lose to Mexico.
In that scenario, Bafana would have an eight-in-12 chance of advancing, depending on results elsewhere in the tournament.
A victory over South Korea would be the ideal outcome. It would take Bafana to four points and, assuming Czechia lose to Mexico, secure qualification for the next round.
More importantly, a win would almost certainly see Bafana finish second in the group, avoiding the nervous wait that comes with relying on a best third-placed finish.
The equation is therefore simple: win and qualification should be within reach.
Doing it on paper is easy. Doing it on the pitch will be the hard part.