World Cup draw: Williams reveals Bafana’s secret weapon against South Korea

Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Ronwen Williams has highlighted one key advantage South Africa will have against South Korea at the 2026 World Cup.

South Africa were pulled in Group A during the World Cup draw conducted in Washington, DC on Friday and will face co-hosts Mexico, South Korea and a European team that will win the playoff group that has Denmark, Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland and North Macedonia.

While Mexico are familiar foes, who have faced Bafana Bafana four times before, including the 2010 World Cup, South Korea have never played against South Africa, posing a tricky test to coach Hugo Broos and his men.

Williams counting on Club World Cup experience

However, Williams think they could have an ace up their sleeve when they take on the Asian giants. This is because Bafana Bafana have Mamelodi Sundowns players, Williams being one of them, who faced a South Korean team in Ulsan HD at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, a match they won 1-0. 

Williams thinks the familiarity with those players could help them know how to contain the Koreans when they face off in Monterey, Mexico on June 25, 2026.

“South Korea have some of the players we played at the Club World Cup,” Williams said on SuperSport TV when reacting to the World Cup draw.

Bafana goalkeeper has cautious optimism

“You can never say where you will get the points. Every game will have its challenges. But we will go out believing we can get a result. We don’t want to be there to add numbers. We want to see how far we have come as a country.

“That is not to put pressure on us, it is the first time in a long time that we have been at this prestige tournament. But we believe we are capable of getting out of the group.”

Bafana Bafana will be playing their fourth World Cup in North America after featuring at the 1998, 2002 and 2010 tournaments, when they exited at the group stage.