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Day 8 of the 2026 World Cup and the tournament is well and truly warming up. Yesterday gave us six goals in Dallas, a last-gasp winner in Toronto, Luis Díaz bossing it in Mexico City, and Cristiano Ronaldo looking very, very mortal. Oh, and today? Bafana Bafana are on.
Let's get into it.
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YESTERDAY'S RESULTS — Wednesday 17 June
Portugal 1–1 DR Congo | NRG Stadium, Houston | Group K
What a shocker for Portugal fans. João Neves put them ahead in the 6th minute and it looked routine — until Yoane Wissa (the Brentford striker) headed home right on the stroke of half-time to level things up.
England 4–2 Croatia | AT&T Stadium, Dallas | Group L
This was the match of the tournament.
Ghana 1–0 Panama | BMO Field, Toronto | Group L
Drama in the 95th minute! Ghana looked like they were heading for a frustrating draw until Caleb Yirenkyi poked home in the fifth minute of stoppage time to nick all three points. Panama were furious. Ghana fans were delirious. That's African football, baby.
Uzbekistan 1–3 Colombia | Estadio Akron, Guadalajara | Group K
Colombia were clinical.
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TODAY'S MATCHES — Thursday 18 June (see all WC Matches)
Czechia vs South Africa | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta | Group A | 18:00 SAST
This is the one every South African has been waiting for. Bafana Bafana are back at a World Cup for the first time since 2010, when they hosted the entire tournament on home soil. Czechia are no pushovers, but the nation will be watching and the motivation couldn't be higher.
Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood | Group B | 21:00 SAST
Switzerland are boring in the best possible way — compact, disciplined, and capable of grinding out results against anyone. Bosnia are making just their second ever World Cup appearance, and they'll need to be at their best to break the Swiss down.
Canada vs Qatar | BC Place, Vancouver | Group B | 00:00 SAST (Friday)
Canada are playing in Vancouver — as close to a home game as you can get. The stadium will be packed with red maple leafs and the atmosphere should be electric. Qatar are desperate to avoid another humiliating group-stage exit after 2022, when they became the first host nation ever to be knocked out in the group stage.
Mexico vs South Korea | Estadio Akron, Zapopan | Group A | 05:00 SAST (Friday)
A late one for the diehards. By the time this kicks off, both teams will know exactly what happened between Czechia and South Africa earlier — which means this could easily become a must-win. Son Heung-min carries South Korea's hopes on his shoulders, and at 34 this could be his last World Cup dance.
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Enjoy the football today. If Bafana are on your TV tonight, get loud.
The BetShop Team
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