3 articles
Nine of ten African nations advanced past the World Cup group stage. Before this tournament, nine different African teams had never done it combined. This isn't an upset story. It's a tectonic shift.
South Africa beat South Korea 1-0 and made the World Cup knockouts for the first time ever. The world barely noticed. That's exactly the problem.
Mexico has never won when they open the World Cup — 0-5-2 in seven tries. South Africa just arrived days late after a visa nightmare. Neither team is walking into Thursday's opener clean.
