{"id":2227,"date":"2026-05-21T22:57:16","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T22:57:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/habariforum.com\/english\/?p=2227"},"modified":"2026-05-21T22:57:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T22:57:16","slug":"south-africa-national-football-squad-for-2026-world-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/habariforum.com\/english\/south-africa-national-football-squad-for-2026-world-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"South Africa National Football Squad For 2026 World Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"

South Africa National Football Squad For 2026 World Cup<\/h2>\n

South Africa coach Hugo Broos has announced a 32-player preliminary squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The final traveling group of 26 players will be confirmed later this week.Bafana Bafana are heading to their first World Cup since 2010, when they hosted the tournament on home soil.<\/p>\n

Camp Starts Monday, Final Squad Announced Wednesday<\/h3>\n

The squad will begin assembling in Johannesburg on Monday, 25 May. However, the camp will open with only 24 players. The Mamelodi Sundowns contingent and several overseas-based players will join later.<\/p>\n

Sundowns are still in action in Africa. The club faces Moroccan side AS FAR in the second leg of the CAF Champions League final on Sunday, 24 May, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. The players will only return to South Africa on Tuesday, 26 May.<\/p>\n

The final 26-man World Cup squad will be revealed on Wednesday, 27 May, at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Pretoria. South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa and SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan will both be present at the announcement.<\/p>\n

Send-Off Match Against Nicaragua<\/h3>\n

Before flying out to the World Cup, Bafana Bafana will play a farewell match at home. Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg will host the send-off game against Nicaragua on Friday, 29 May. Kickoff is at 6pm.<\/p>\n

Key Players in the Squad<\/h3>\n

Captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams leads the group. Midfielder Teboho Mokoena and Burnley striker Lyle Foster are among the other standout names. Williams and Mokoena are part of a nine-man Mamelodi Sundowns presence in the squad. Orlando Pirates also contribute nine players, including forward Oswin Appollis.<\/p>\n

The Full Preliminary Squad<\/h3>\n

Goalkeepers<\/strong>: Ronwen Williams, Ricardo Goss, Sipho Chaine, Brandon Peterson<\/p>\n

Defenders<\/strong>: Khuliso Mudau, Olwethu Makhanya, Bradley Cross, Thabiso Monyane, Thabang Matuludi, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Aubrey Modiba, Khulumani Ndamane, Ime Okon, Samukele Kabini, Mbekezeli Mbokazi<\/p>\n

Midfielders<\/strong>: Teboho Mokoena, Jayden Adams, Brooklyn Poggenpoel, Lebohang Maboe, Thalente Mbatha, Sphephelo Sithole<\/p>\n

Forwards<\/strong>: Oswin Appollis, Tshepang Moremi, Evidence Makgopa, Lyle Foster, Iqraam Rayners, Relebohile Mofokeng, Themba Zwane, Patrick Maswanganyi, Kamogelo Sebelebele, Thapelo Morena, Thapelo Maseko<\/p>\n

All squads remain provisional until FIFA confirms the final submissions on 2 June.<\/p>\n

\"South<\/p>\n

Group A Opponents and Fixtures<\/h3>\n

South Africa were placed in Group A during the World Cup draw in Washington DC in December 2025. They will face Mexico, South Korea and Czech Republic.<\/p>\n

The opening match is a special one. Bafana Bafana take on co-hosts Mexico on 11 June at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. This game also kicks off the entire 48-team tournament, making it the first match of the 2026 World Cup.<\/p>\n

South Africa then travel to Atlanta to face Czechia on 18 June, before closing the group stage against Korea Republic in Monterrey on 24 June. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. It runs from 11 June to 19 July 2026.<\/p>\n

FAQ<\/h3>\n

How many players are in South Africa’s preliminary World Cup squad?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hugo Broos named 32 players in the preliminary squad. The list will be reduced to 26 before the tournament begins.<\/p>\n

When will the final Bafana Bafana World Cup squad be announced?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The final 26-man squad will be announced on Wednesday, 27 May, in Pretoria.<\/p>\n

Who is the Bafana Bafana captain for the 2026 World Cup?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Goalkeeper Ronwen Williams is the squad captain.<\/p>\n

Who are South Africa’s opponents at the 2026 World Cup?<\/strong><\/p>\n

South Africa are in Group A alongside Mexico, South Korea and Czech Republic.<\/p>\n

What is South Africa’s first match at the 2026 World Cup?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bafana Bafana face Mexico on 11 June at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. This match also opens the entire 2026 FIFA World Cup.<\/p>\n

Read Also: <\/strong>Bafana Bafana Set for AFCON 2027 Qualifiers Against Guinea, Kenya and Eritrea<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

South Africa National Football Squad For 2026 World Cup South Africa coach Hugo Broos has announced a 32-player preliminary squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The final traveling group of 26 players will be confirmed later this week.Bafana Bafana are heading to their first World Cup since 2010, when they hosted the tournament on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2224,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2227","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-bafana-bafana"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/habariforum.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2227","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/habariforum.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/habariforum.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/habariforum.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/habariforum.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2227"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/habariforum.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2227\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2229,"href":"https:\/\/habariforum.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2227\/revisions\/2229"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/habariforum.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2224"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/habariforum.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2227"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/habariforum.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2227"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/habariforum.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2227"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}