South Africa U15 reach World Cup last 16 after Malaysia win

South Africa’s U15 side reached the last 16 of the inaugural 2026 FIFA U15 Boys World Cup and Festival with a 6-2 victory over Malaysia in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Wednesday morning.

Camden Schaper scored four times as South Africa secured their place in the knockout stages, with Tshiamo Mashishi and Alex Van Der Werf also finding the net.

South Africa will play the winner of Jamaica’s meeting with Portugal for a place in the quarter-finals.

The result completed an impressive group-stage campaign in which South Africa recorded three wins, one draw and one defeat. They finished with 10 points, one behind group winners Estonia, who edged France on goal difference.

South Africa’s progress followed a significant 3-2 victory over France on Monday in a pulsating final group-stage match. France had started the game as group leaders, but the win allowed South Africa to move above them and finish second.

That position placed the South Africans in the Tier B Last 32, which brought together the teams that finished second in their respective groups during the Tournament phase. Their reward was a meeting with Malaysia, whom they defeated comfortably to advance to the last 16.

South Africa’s results at the tournament have been:

– South Africa 8-0 Maldives – South Africa 1-2 Kosovo – South Africa 13-1 Anguilla – South Africa 0-0 Estonia – South Africa 6-2 Malaysia