South Africa leave it late to snatch a 1-1 draw with Czechia, as Group A is blown wide open in Atlanta.
Teboho Mokoena’s spot kick means both nations will head into match-day three with a realistic change of progression.
In today’s second match, Switzerland take on Bosnia Herzegovina, before co-hots Canada and Mexico host Qatar and South Korea respectively.
Check out the full World Cup schedule here in Australian timesABC Sport podcast: Check out the latest episode here
Follow all the action in our live blog.
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 2:19am
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 2:19am
Live updates: Czechia vs South AfricaFri 19 Jun 2026 at 4:30am
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 4:30amFri 19 Jun 2026 at 4:30am
How that result leaves things in Group A
Essentially, it means that both South Africa and Czechia will head into matchday three with very realistic chances of securing progression.
Later today, Mexico and South Korea lock horns in the group’s other game. A win for either side would secure a Round of 32 berth.
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 4:27am
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 4:27am
Match report: South Africa salvage late draw against Czechia
(Getty Images)
— with Reuters
South Africa scored a penalty seven minutes from fulltime as they fought back to draw 1-1 with the Czech Republic at the World Cup on Thursday after falling behind early in the Group A clash.
Teboho Mokoena slotted home the spotkick after Pavel Sulc’s handball handed the South Africans a lifeline as they were staring at potential early elimination.
The Czechs led from the sixth minute when Michal Sadilek struck home after a clever slipped pass from Alexandr Sojka following Adam Hlozek’s delivery from the right wing.
Both teams now have a point after losing their respective opening games last Thursday.
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 4:23am
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 4:23am
Ivory Coast forward Wahi cleared to travel to Canada
(Getty Images)
— with Reuters
Ivory Coast forward Elye Wahi has received travel authorisation to visit Canada for this weekend’s World Cup clash with Germany, the country’s football federation said on Thursday, hours after it said he would not be able to travel because he had not received his visa.
“The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) reports that Elye Wahi’s administrative situation has evolved favorably. The necessary authorisations for his entry into Canadian territory have now been obtained,” said a statement from the official X account of the Ivorian Football Federation.
Canadian immigration officials did not immediately respond to an email query by Reuters.
Wahi was linked to an investigation into suspected sports corruption, with French authorities saying unusual betting patterns were detected around a yellow card Wahi received in a Ligue 1 match while playing for Nice last month.
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 4:04am
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 4:04am
FT: Czechia 1 – 1 South Africa
(Getty Images)
So, South Africa dig deep to keep their tournament alive.
Bafana Bafana created precious little before that late penalty, but burst into life after it.
Bafana Bafana finish the game with wind in their sails, but are unable to find a winner.
It is a bitterly disappointing result for Czechia, who looked so in control of proceedings for so long in Atlanta.
That’s five points lost now from winning positions for the Europeans.
The result sets us on course for a barnstorming end to the group, with Czechia needing a result against Mexico in Mexico City, and South Africa needing something from South Korea.
But before that, Mexico and South Korea lock horns in what promises to be a blockbuster later today.
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 3:59am
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 3:59am
90+5′ Was that the chance!?
South Africa produces what might be its best move of the game, stringing together a glut of passes, but Makgopa’s shot is saved.
That’ll just about be that.
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 3:56am
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 3:56am
90+4′ Czechia shot flashed wide
There is plenty of space out there as both teams tire in the dying embers in Atlanta.
The ball bobbles up at the edge of the penalty area and Lukas Provod flashes his shot wide for Czechia.
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 3:54am
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 3:54am
90′ We’re into seven minutes of stoppage time
It is now Czechia’s turn to stream forward.
Vladimír Coufal works a ball into the penalty area from the dead ball, looking for the hulking figure of Tomas Soucek.
However, Soucek can’t be found and the offside flag is up.
We’re into seven minutes of injury time in Atlanta.
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 3:51am
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 3:51am
88′ Momentum with South Africa
What a finale we have on our hands.
Suddenly, South Africa is in the ascendency.
Kamogelo Sebelebel stings the palms of the goalkeeper from the edge of the penalty area.
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 3:46am
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 3:46am
AND SOUTH AFRICA IS LEVEL!
Bafana Bafana are still alive at the 2026 World Cup!
(Getty Images)
Teboho Mokoena stands over the spot kick, takes a few deep breaths and slots the most confident of penalties.
It’s a hard side-footed effort into the left-hand corner.
(Getty Images)Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 3:44am
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 3:44am
PENALTY FOR SOUTH AFRICA!
Oh my gosh – from nowhere, South Africa have a golden opportunity to get back into this game.
Thapelo Maseko has an effort from the edge of the penalty area, it flies into the left arm of Pavel Sulc and the referee points to the spot!
It’s tough on Sulc, but that’s not going to be overturned.
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 3:41am
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 3:41am
76′ Another disappointing long-range effort from South Africa
Czechia’s Ladislav Krejci commits a clear foul and is awarded a yellow card, gifting South Africa a chance from the dead ball about 35m from goal.
The box is flooded by yellow shirts – however, instead of a ball being whipped into the area, a pass is worked square and Mbekezeli Mbokazi tries to wallop one long range.
The ball is easily blocked and it’s another disappointing move for South Africa.
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 3:37am
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 3:37am
73′ Better from South Africa after the break
With their tournament well and truly on the line, Bafana Bafana start the fourth quarter with a little more urgency.
The newly arrived Evidence Makgopa rises high in the box and gets his head on a shot, but it’s a timid effort and easily gathered by the goalkeeper.
That’s South Africa’s first effort on target.
They’ll need a few more of them.
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 3:32am
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 3:32am
69′ We’re at the final break
We have reached the halfway point in the second half and the game stops for the players to take a drink.
It’s now or never for South Africa.
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 3:31am
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 3:31am
68′ A painful one and a raft of substitutions
Oh, that’s a painful one for Khuliso Mudau.
He falls over defending and then cops a stamp to the back of his leg from Adam Hlozek.
It’s completely unintentional but a really sore one nonetheless.
Just a foul.
Meanwhile, there are some substitutions from both sides.
Goalscorer Michal Sadilek leaves the field for Czechia, as does Adam Hlozek.
They’re replaced by Lukas Provod and surprise omission Tomas Soucek.
Evidence Makgopa comes on for South Africa, in place of Iqraam Rayners.
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 3:23am
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 3:23am
59′ South Africa living dangerously
(Getty Images)
Oh boy, South Africa’s discipline is being called into question once more.
This time, it’s the newly arrived Relebohile Mofokeng who has something of brain fade, lashing out with his left arm on Czechia’s Lukas Cerv.
Cerv made the absolute most of that off-the-ball incident, crumpling to the ground under minimal contact.
It’s a foul but no further action is taken.
However, with his side’s World Cup on the line, and with two of his teammates already seeing red this tournament, it was a desperately poor moment for Mofokeng.
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 3:19am
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 3:19am
55′ Double change for Czechia
That beautiful cross is Alexandr Sojka’s final contribution for the night.
He leaves the field along with veteran Vladimir Darida, who put a real shift in today.
They are replaced by Jaroslav Zeleny and Pavel Sulc, who is an attacker fresh from something of a breakout season with Lyon in France.
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 3:15am
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 3:15am
52′ A lovely ball in from Sojka
Alexandr Sojka lifts in a beautiful, tempting early cross.
Ladislav Krejci, I think it was, was lurking at the back post but
Teboho Mokoena does excellently well to stretch and clear the ball out for a corner.
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 3:11am
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 3:11am
47′ A flurry of chances for Czechia
Czechia has begun the second half as the started the first, with some serious bite going forward.
Vladimir Darida is the first to go close – his effort, from close to the penalty spot, is blocked.
Moments later, Patrick Shick gets his head to a corner but it’s straight at the goalkeeper, who gathers with ease.
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 3:09am
Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 3:09am
We’re back for the second half in Atlanta
And South African manager Hugo Broos has turned to his bench.
Attacker Relebohile Mofokeng comes on for Jayden Aadams.
Big 45 minutes ahead for Bafana Bafana.
Show more postsABC Sport Daily podcast