FIFA live: Bafana Bafana achieves historic first

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World Cup daily news. We will bring you the latest from around the world as the FIFA World Cup 2026™ finally gets under way (All times AEST).

Bafana Bafana through to the knockouts

24 hours ago, South Africa looked set to have their campaign end after their final group game.

But after a Thapelo Maseko goal in the 63rd minute, they have leapfrogged South Korea to automatically qualify as the second best finisher in Group A on four points.

It's the first time that the country has made the knockouts in their history after making their World Cup debut in 1998.

Heart break for Scotland

Scotland coach Steve Clarke started by walking out of his post match interview but after some time composed himself enough to say they're "going home for sure".

After the final whistle in their 3-0 defeat to Brazil, Opta gave Scotland a 42% chance of claiming a lucky third place qualifier spot.

A draw would have almost certainly been enough but Scotland the Tartan Army will now have to wait until Sunday AEST to know their fate for sure.

There was significant pessimism after the match however with Clarke walking out on his first interview when asked about the nervous wait they faced.

"You see their quality in the final third of the pitch, we didn't have that tonight," he said.

"We created chances but it wasn't enough. Let's be honest the best team won.

"It was unbelievable the shift the players put in, the ones who played 90 minutes in that heat and humidity were outstanding but we have to be better if we want to compete at this level.

"In the first four or five minutes we passed the ball well and then made a mistake. You cannot do that at this level because it puts you on the back foot and it becomes a long night

"For sure I think we're going home."

Morocco's 4-2 win against Haiti ensured they remained in second and behind Brazil on goal difference, with Scotland coming out in third.

As things currently stand, Scotland are the sixth best third-place team and would face Mexico in the Round of 32. But there are PLENTY more matches to come and a lot can change.

AS THINGS STAND FOR THIRD PACE QUALIFY SPOT

1 Bosnia and Herzegovina 4pts (5-6) -1GD (three games)
2 Sweden 3pts (6-6) 0GD (two games played)
3 Croatia 3pts (3-4) -1GD (two games)
4 South Korea 3pts (2-3) -1GD (three games) 5 Algeria 3pts (2-4) -2GD (two games)
6 Paraguay 3pts (2-4) -2GD (two games)
7 Scotland 3pts (1-4) -3GD (three games)
8 Cape Verde 2pts (2-2) 0GD (two games)

NEXT BEST

9 Belgium 2pts (1-1) 0GD (two games)
10 DR Congo 1pt (1-2) -1GD (two games)
11 Ecuador 1pt (0-1) -1GD (two games)
12 Senegal 0pt (3-6) -3GD (two games)

MEXICO IS ROCKING!

The mariarchi band is in full swing as the co-hosts score the first goal of the match 55 minutes in and it's Matteo Chavez that claims the screamer. Celebrated so hard I think he might have a bloody nose now!

Poor goal to have conceded, but let's be honest no one cares where they come form as long as they're for you.

Just minutes later you would think it's Czech mate as the Mexicans double their lead and it's a sad goal to be honest. It's a defensive disaster. Ball watching and no eyes on the men in white.

FIVE-MATCH BAN

Ismaël Koné returned to the field - albeit it in a wheelchair - as his Canadian teammates played their final group stage match against Switzerland this morning.

Just days after he suffered a horrific leg break against Qatar, Koné was given a hero's welcome by the crowd in Vancouver as he did a lap of the stadium and fans held up his shirt and number in support.

His return to the field and hie teammates coincided with FIFA handing down a monster five match ban to Assim Madibo who was responsible for the challenge that landed Koné in surgery.

The disciplinary board ruled that the player warranted an increased ban for serious foul play, which is subject to appeal.

Madibo was visibly upset after the tackle and visited the Canadian team rooms after the match as well as seeing Koné in hospital in the aftermath.

FT IN MIAMI & ATLANTA

A 3-0 win for Brazil over Scotland, thanks to a brace from Vinicius Jnr, sees them top Group C. They'll meet the runner-up of Group F in the Round 32 - most likely Japan.

Morocco twice came from behind to beat Haiti 4-2 which sees them finish second in Group C. The North Africans will play the winner of Group F next - most likely Netherlands.

RAINING GOALS IN ATLANTA

Morocco has gone ballistic late in the game and now lead 4-2.

Soufiane Rahimi netted in the 78th minute and now fellow second-half sub, 20-year-old Gessime Yassine, has scored his first international goal.

So much promise from Haiti but it has gone belly up.

BRAZIL PLAY THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

Your heart breaks, this scoreline could get really embarrassing for the Tartan Army. A quality goal from the Brazilians, wonderfully set up for Matheus Cunha.

Still more than 30 minutes to go and you've got to worry how many more they might get.

HALF-TIME IN MIAMI

Brazil has a 2-0 lead over Scotland thanks to a first-half Vinicius Jnr brace.

The samba kings are in control and two points clear on top of Group C as it stands.

IT'S ALL HAPPENING!

Need a breather.

It's half-time in Atlanta and it's 2-2 between Haiti and Morocco.

The Haitians scored first through a Bounou own goal before Achraf Hakimi levelled in the 39th minute. Haiti went 2-1 up through Wilson Isidor four minutes later before Ismael Saibari equalised again minutes later.

OH SCOTLAND! GOAL DENIED!

The biggest of let offs for Scotland. It's good work from VAR but Scotland caught napping.

Another defensive HOWLER had Junior scoring his second of the match but a referral to the robot refs have overturned the decision with the Scottish player fouled before the goal was scored.

VAR is right - if you look at it black and white but it annoys me so much given how many bad calls have been missed r overlooked this World Cup.

BRAZIL GIFTED!

What a mistake from Scotland. Vinicius Junior scores and that's his third of the tournament. Scots totally switched off.

Defender took just a fraction too long to take his clearance the the Brazilians pounced, the block found it's way to Junio and all he had to do was control it with the keeper off centre.

Sloppy from Scotland. Second match they have conceded early. Such a shame as they had started pretty well.

HISTORY IN ATLANTA!

Haiti, against all odds, have scored their first World Cup goal in 52 years. They lead Morocco!

Lenny Joseph had etched his named into Haitian Football folklore. But it wa slater given an own goal from Moroccan keeper Yassine Bounou.

SOCCEROOS INJURY WOES

The Socceroos will enter their final group stage match without fullback Jacob Italiano and veteran Matthew Leckie.

After starting both of Australia’s group games, Italiano is set to miss out on the Paraguay showdown with an injury sustained during training.

Tony Popovic confirmed the news ahead of the team’s final group match on Friday 12pm (AEST). “Jacob, unfortunately, won’t be available,” Popovic said.

“I think it’s an adductor injury. We don’t know the extent of it as yet. We’ll do some further tests in the coming days, but he won’t available for this game.”

It’s a big void to fill for Popovic given Italian has become an automatic first choice right winger, but for SEN’s Archie Thompson, Jason Geria or Kai Trewin are the candidates to step in if there is a reshuffle in the mid or defensive line-up.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

CALLS FOR RED CARD

Paraguay have officially launched a protest to FIFA amid claims of hypocrisy after England star Jude Bellingham was not shown a red card during his side's draw with Ghana despite covering his mouth while speaking to an opponent.

Last week, Miguel Almiron was dismissed for the act under new FIFA guidelines called "Vinicius Law" which ban players from covering their mouths while speaking in a bid to reduce disguised abuse.

According to Spanish media outlet El Mundo Deportivo, Paraguay are fuming and want action taken within the 48-hour protest window.

It is understood Bellingham remained on the pitch because his engagement with the opposition player was not deemed confrontational.

After the Almiron incident, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said: "This thing about covering the mouth is for us a very, very important rule. It's about respect. It's about the example that we should give. If you have nothing to hide, you don't cover your mouth when you speak to somebody. The rules have been made very clear to everyone."

CANADA GET ONE BACK

Hear me out here. I'm really enjoying watching how the Canadians play. I know their US counterparts think they're god's gift to "soccer" but the Canadians are stringing together some wonderful snippets of play.

That goal was a joy to watch, well constructed, smart play to bring the keeper out and a lovely finish from Promise David.

SWITZERLAND SCORE

Just 45 seconds into the second half and Canadian hearts are breaking. Vargas nets it straight off the restart.

GOAL! 2-0 to Switzerland through Johan Manzambi after 58 mins.

"Those defensive question marks over the Canadian defence has been raised again" - SEN Football's Jordan Kounelis.

FIFA BREAK SILENCE ON HYDRATION BREAKS

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has spoken out on the World Cup’s controversial hydration breaks, affirming that the initiative has the players’ best interest at heart.

The mandatory three minute breaks permit both teams to return to the sidelines for hydration purposes amid warm conditions across the Americas.

While the initiative feels appropriate on the surface, the extension of the breaks has copped significant scrutiny.

Fans worldwide have continued to accuse FIFA of introducing the breaks for extra advertisement opportunities, with ads running at each interval for six minutes total across each World Cup match.

Furthermore, the breaks have permitted teams to squander momentum by pausing play and permitting team talks with their coaching staff mid half.

Infantino has confirmed that FIFA does not receive any financial gain from the breaks.

“There is no additional revenue for FIFA, as all commercial agreements were signed well in advance,” he said.

“This is not a financial issue for us. For us, it is purely a sporting matter.

“With teams potentially playing eight matches in those 39 days, having a moment to rest is extremely important.

“What matters even more to us is ensuring that all teams, in every match, are playing under the same conditions.

“It’s very difficult to accept that a coach might have the opportunity to influence a match by making adjustments simply because it is hotter, while in another match, where the temperature is slightly lower, the same coach does not have the same opportunity.

“We want to ensure equal conditions for everyone and that’s why these breaks are implemented in every match.”