The final whistle sparked celebrations across the country as fans reacted to South Africa’s first-ever FIFA World Cup knockout stage qualification.
Monterrey, Mexico (25 June 2026) – Whether they were awake at 3 am, catching up on highlights later in the morning, or refreshing their phones for the final score, South Africans everywhere shared the same joy.
Bafana Bafana secured a place in the FIFA World Cup knockout stages for the first time after defeating South Korea.
From living rooms to stadium seats, fans captured the emotion of a historic night as the final whistle confirmed South Africa’s place in the Round of 32. Social media quickly filled with reactions from supporters, former players and football personalities celebrating a milestone moment for the national team.
Here are some of the reactions that captured the feeling around Bafana Bafana’s historic achievement.
Michael Morton Captures Itumeleng Khune’s Emotional Reaction
Michael Morton was among the supporters at the stadium who shared a special moment after the final whistle. In his video, former South African goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune can be seen overcome with emotion as he watched Bafana Bafana secure their place in the knockout stages.
“History! We’re going to the knockouts!”
Trevor Noah Celebrates with Friends
South African comedian Trevor Noah also joined in the celebrations, sharing a glimpse of his reaction while watching the match with friends. As the final whistle confirmed South Africa’s qualification, the group erupted in excitement.
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Football content creator Jana Swart, better known as Mzansi Soccer Girl on social media, experienced the moment from inside the stadium. After sharing the nerves and tension of watching the game unfold live, she captured the celebrations that followed once qualification was confirmed.
Take it in South Africa, history has been made.
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