South Africa made history as the first African nation to host a World Cup in 2010. Football boomed there after the end of apartheid, and the national team remains a symbol of the "rainbow nation".

The road ahead

Group game 1 · Thu 11 June

at Mexico0–2 L

Group game 2 · Thu 18 June

at Czechia1–1 D

Group game 3 · Wed 24 June

vs Korea Republic1–0 W

Three group games are guaranteed; the knockout steps unlock as the team advances.