South Africa kept their FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout-stage ambitions intact after Teboho Mokoena converted a late penalty to secure a 1-1 draw against the Czech Republic in Atlanta on Thursday.

Bafana Bafana ground out the result in a hard-fought contest, with Mokoena's spot-kick arriving at a crucial moment to deny their opponents a victory that would have put South Africa's tournament in serious doubt.

The draw means Hugo Broos's side remain in contention heading into the remaining fixtures, with every point now carrying enormous weight as the group-stage race tightens.