Bafana Bafana Set to Reveal Final Squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
South Africa’s national team, Bafana Bafana, is preparing to announce the players who will represent the country at the expanded 48‑team 2026 FIFA World Cup – should the side qualify. According to a report by TimesLIVE, head coach Hugo Broos will unveil the final 23‑ to 26‑man squad on Wednesday evening at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House, part of the Union Buildings complex in Pretoria.
Announcement Details
- Time: 7:00 p.m. (South African Standard Time)
- Day: Wednesday
- Venue: Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House, Union Buildings, Pretoria
- Who will announce: Hugo Broos, head coach of Bafana Bafana
- Expected guest: President Cyril Ramaphosa is slated to attend the ceremony
Selection Process and Squad Size
FIFA permits a final World Cup roster of between 23 and 26 players. The deadline for submitting the official list to world football’s governing body is 1 June 2026. Prior to that, a provisional squad must be filed by 11 May 2026. Only players who suffer an injury after the provisional list is submitted can be added to the final roster.
Broos initially named a provisional group of 32 players on Thursday. Those athletes reported to camp on Monday and began training on Tuesday ahead of a friendly encounter.
Provisional Squad and Training Camp
- Provisional squad size: 32 players
- Camp start: Monday (training began)
- First training session: Tuesday
Warm‑up Match Against Nicaragua
Bafana Bafana will face Nicaragua in a preparatory friendly on Friday at 6:00 p.m. local time. The match is scheduled for Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg and serves as the final opportunity for the coaching staff to assess player fitness and tactical combinations before the World Cup.
Travel to Mexico and Pre‑World Cup Schedule
- Departure for Mexico: Sunday (following the Nicaragua friendly)
- Base in Mexico: Universidad de Futbol in Pachuca, approximately 95 km northwest of Mexico City
- Planned friendlies after arrival: None are officially scheduled; the team may organise closed‑door sessions with local Mexican clubs if needed.
Group A Fixtures and Path to the Round of 32
If South Africa secures qualification, they will be placed in Group A alongside the tournament co‑hosts Mexico, the Czech Republic, and South Korea. The match schedule is as follows:
- Opening game: 11 June 2026 vs. Mexico at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City – kickoff 13:00 local (21:00 SAST)
- Second game: 18 June 2026 vs. Czech Republic at Mercedes‑Benz Stadium, Atlanta, USA – kickoff 12:00 local (18:00 SAST)
- Final group game: 24 June 2026 vs. South Korea at Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe, Mexico – kickoff 19:00
