Wednesday May 27, 2026. 20:07
Head coach Hugo Broos unveiled South Africa’s final 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in a press conference held in Pretoria on Wednesday evening.
Broos was joined by South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa and South African Football Association (SAFA) President Dr Danny Jordaan at the event, as Bafana Bafana geared up for their fourth World Cup appearance (adding to 1998, 2002 and 2010).
A 32-man preliminary squad was named last week, and the six players who have been cut from the final list – but will remain on stand-by – are goalkeeper Brandon Peterson, defender Thabsio Monyane, midfielders Brooklyn Poggenpoel and Lebohang Maboe, attacker Patrick Maswanganyi, and utility player Thapelo Morena.
“There were some hard decisions to make […] I know how they [the players who were omitted] will feel, but that is part of the job,” said Broos.
The 26-man squad featured seven overseas-based players, eight players from newly-crowned Betway Premiership champions Orlando Pirates, and eight players from CAF Champions League winners Mamelodi Sundowns.
Bafana Bafana will play an International Friendly against Nicaragua in Soweto on Friday evening, before jetting out to their base in Mexico on Sunday.
South Africa will play in the opening match of the tournament, facing co-hosts Mexico in Mexico City on the evening of Thursday 11 June – exactly 16 years after the teams met in the opening match of the 2010 World Cup at the FNB Stadium.
Bafana will then face Czechia on 18 June in Atlanta and South Korea on 25 June in Guadalupe, as the team looks to advance beyond the group stage of the World Cup for the first time in history.
South Africa’s 2026 World Cup squad
Goalkeepers:
Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns), Ricardo Goss (Siwelele FC), Sipho Chaine (Orlando Pirates).
Defenders:
Khuliso Mudau (Mamelodi Sundowns), Nkosinathi Sibisi (Orlando Pirates), Ime Okon (Hannover 96, Germany), Khulumani Ndamane (Mamelodi Sundowns), Aubrey Modiba (Mamelodi Sundowns), Samukelo Kabini (Molde FK, Norway), Thabang Matuludi (Polokwane City), Olwethu Makhanya (Philadelphia Union, USA), Kamogelo Sebelebele (Orlando Pirates), Bradley Cross (Kaizer Chiefs), Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Chicago Fire, USA).
Midfielders:
Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thalente Mbatha (Orlando Pirates), Sphephelo Sithole (CD Tondela, Portugal), Jayden Adams (Mamelodi Sundowns), Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns).
Forwards:
Oswin Appollis (Orlando Pirates), Iqraam Rayners (Mamelodi Sundowns), Tshepang Moremi (Orlando Pirates), Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates), Evidence Makgopa (Orlando Pirates), Lyle Foster (Burnley, England), Thapelo Maseko (AEL Limassol, Cyprus, loan).
