The last time the South Africa national football team appeared at the FIFA World Cup, they were hosts. Sixteen years later, they return to football’s biggest stage on merit.
Drawn in Group C during qualifying, it was widely expected that the Nigeria national football team would top the group. However, it was coach Hugo Broos’s side that ultimately claimed top spot.
READ: Bafana Bafana receive rousing reception at send-off
Throughout the campaign, Bafana Bafana proved difficult to beat, drawing home and away against Nigeria and suffering only two defeats, one of which was retrospectively awarded to the Lesotho national football team as a 3-0 victory after it was ruled that Teboho Mokoena had been ineligible due to accumulated yellow cards in the original 2-0 win.
The 2026 tournament in North America will mark South Africa’s fourth FIFA World Cup appearance overall. In a twist of fate, they will feature in the tournament opener against the Mexico national football team on 11 June (21:00) at Estadio Azteca, exactly 16 years after the two nations met in the opening match of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Bafana will then travel to the United States to face the Czech Republic national football team at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (18:00), before returning to Mexico to conclude their Group A campaign against the South Korea national football team at Estadio BBVA (03:00).
South Africans will have an opportunity to give Bafana Bafana a proper send-off on Friday, 29 May, when they face Nicaragua national football team at 18:00 at the Orlando Stadium.
Here is the final Bafana Bafana squad:
GOALKEEPERS
Rowen Williams
Ricardo Goss
Sipho Chaine
DEFENDERS
Khuliso Mudau
Olwethu Makhanya
Bradley Cross
Aubrey Modiba
Thabang Matuludi
Nkosinathi Sibisi
Ime Okon
Samukele Kabini
Mbekezeli Mbokazi
Kamogelo Sebelebele
Khulumani Ndamane
MIDFIELDERS
Tebogo Mokoena
Thalente Mbatha
Jayden Adams
Sphephelo Sithole
FORWARDS
Oswin Appollis
Tshepang Moremi
Evidence Makgopa
Lyle Foster
Iqraam Rayners
Relebohile Mofokeng
Themba Zwane
Thapelo Maseko
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