The ultimate guide to Bafana Bafana’s 2026 World Cup campaign
· The South African
Bafana Bafana are back in the World Cup after a 16-year wait. Here’s everything you need to know including key trivia, danger men, fixtures and more.
Mexico vs Bafana World Cup opener key details
Mexico and South Africa will kick the 2026 World Cup off at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Incidentally, these sides also played the first match of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the first showpiece of its kind hosted on African soil. Co-hosts Mexico, ranked 15th in the world by FIFA, will be eager to get their campaign off to a winning start against a Bafana Bafana side ranked 60th best on the planet. Mexico vs South Africa kicks off on Thursday, 11 June at 21:00 CAT.
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Likely Bafana starting XI vs Mexico
Williams; Mudau, Ndamane, Mbokazi, Kabini; Mokoena, Mbatha; Appollis, Mofokeng, Moremi; Foster.
Bafana squad trivia
19 of the 26-man squad named by Hugo Broos play in South Africa’s Betway Premiership. Ex-Orlando Pirates star Lyle Foster is the only British-based player, recently relegated from the Premier League with Burnley. Uncapped 22-year-old defender Olwethu Makhanya turns out for United States MLS side Philadelphia Union. Bradley Cross, also uncapped, was previously on the books of Newcastle United. However, the 25-year-old never played a senior game for the Magpies. Bafana Bafana’s squad contains eight players from the newly crowned champions, Orlando Pirates, and nine from Sundowns.
Full 2026 World Cup squad
Ronwen Williams (Sundowns), Ricardo Goss (Siwelele), Sipho Chaine (Orlando Pirates).
DefendersKhuliso Mudau (Sundowns), Thabang Matuludi (Polokwane), Khulumani Ndamane (Sundowns), Nkosinathi Sibisi (Pirates), Ime Okon (Hannover 96), Aubrey Modiba (Sundowns), Samukelo Kabini (Molde), Bradley Cross (Kaizer Chiefs), Olwethu Makhanya (Philadelphia Union), Kamogelo Sebelebele (Pirates), Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Chicago Fire).
MidfieldersTeboho Mokoena (Sundowns), Sphephelo Sithole (Tondela), Thalente Mbatha (Pirates), Jayden Adams (Sundowns).
AttackersLyle Foster (Burnley), Themba Zwane, Iqraam Rayners, Thapelo Maseko (all Sundowns), Oswin Appollis, Relebohile Mofokeng, Evidence Makgopa, Tshepang Moremi (all Pirates).
South Africa’s 2026 World Cup fixtures
- Thu, 11 June: Mexico vs South Africa (Mexico City), kickoff 21:00 CAT
- Thu, 18 June: The Czech Republic vs South Africa (Atlanta), kickoff 18:00 CAT
- Thu, 25 June: South Africa vs South Korea (Monterrey), kickoff 03:00 CAT
Broos bows out
South Africa coach Hugo Broos has announced that he’ll retire after the finals. The 74-year-old Belgian has won plenty of goodwill with Bafana fans in recent years, taking South Africa to the 2023 AFCON semi-finals, eventually finishing third, and now qualifying them for their first World Cup in 16 years. Broos is no stranger to success, having won the AFCON title with Cameroon in 2017 and scooped five major honours with top-tier Belgian sides during his career.
Who are Bafana’s key operators?
Everything goes through Mamelodi Sundowns midfield metronome Teboho Mokoena. Around him, Bafana Bafana boss Hugo Broos will also lean on the precocious talents of 21-year-old Orlando Pirates sensation Relebohile Mofokeng. USA-based defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi is still only 20 but is already being earmarked as a future Bafana skipper. Burnley striker Lyle Foster will lead the line with his relentless pressing, channel-running and smart link-up play, perhaps with a point to prove after suffering relegation from the Premier League with the Clarets.
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