Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos on Thursday announced a 32-member preliminary squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The team will assemble in Johannesburg on Monday, 25 May and the camp will start with 24 players as the Mamelodi Sundowns players and the overseas-based contingent will still be out of the country.
Sundowns will only return to South Africa on Tuesday, 26 May as they face Morocco side AS Far in the second leg of their CAF Champions League final at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Sunday, 24 May.
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos announces preliminary 2026 FIFA World Cup squad #BafanaPride@adidasfootball @adidasza @rexona_sa @standardbankza @10betza @freddyhirschsa @flysaa @honorza @castlelagersa @cocacolaza @sabcsport @nutritechfit @southernsunhotels @sociosdotcom pic.twitter.com/5VHfF59kep
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) May 21, 2026
The final team for the FIFA World Cup will be announced at Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Pretoria on Wednesday, 27 May and Broos will be joined by South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa and South African Football Association (SAFA) President Dr Danny Jordaan, among others, as the names of the traveling 26 players are confirmed to the nation.
As part of the South African senior men’s national team’s preparations for the global tournament, Johannesburg’s Orlando Stadium will host Bafana Bafana’s FIFA World Cup send-off match against Nicaragua next week.
The match will be played on Friday, 29 May and the kickoff is at 6pm.
South Africa were drawn in Group A during the FIFA World Cup draw held in Washington DC in December 2025.
Bafana Bafana will compete against Mexico, South Korea and Czech Republic.
Mexico will host Bafana Bafana in the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 11 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City and this game will mark the start of the 48-team tournament.
This year’s FIFA World Cup will be hosted by the United States of America, Canada and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July 2026.
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