The drought is over for South Africa. After missing out on the three previous global showpieces, the Bafana Bafana are back in the FIFA World Cup™ for the first time since they hosted the world’s best in 2010.
On the heels of South African club side Mamelodi Sundowns capturing the hearts of all neutrals at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ in the USA with their breathtaking attack, the country’s national team will look to do the same at the FIFA World Cup 26™ in North America.
South Africa coach: Hugo Broos
Broos has been at the helm of South Africa since May 2021 and took over after the country narrowly missed out on the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. The Belgian tactician went to work on rejuvenating the squad, handing debuts to promising young players such as Thalente Mbatha, Oswin Appollis and Evidence Makgopa, all of whom played a major role in their World Cup qualification.
This culture shift under Broos led to a third-place finish at the 2023 AFCON, and they stand to contend for the title at the next edition this coming December and January in Morocco. But the crown jewel for the former Cameroon coach is World Cup 26 and the target being a first ever appearance in the knockouts.
South Africa’s World Cup 26 fixtures and group
South Africa will discover their group-stage opponents when the Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup 26 takes place at the prestigious John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC from 12:00 local time (18:00 in Cape Town) on Friday, 5 December.
How South Africa qualified for World Cup 26
South Africa qualified for their fourth global showpiece by finishing first in Group C of CAF qualifying with a record of five wins, three draws and two defeats. There was no shortage of drama, as they jostled with continental heavyweights Nigeria and upstarts Benin until the final minute of the final matchday. South Africa were second in the group heading into their finale at home against Rwanda and took care of business with a 3-0 victory. All eyes were on third-place Nigeria’s home fixture with group leaders Benin, and a 4-0 win for the Super Eagles propelled South Africa into the top spot and a place in the World Cup.
Full World Cup 26 match schedule
South Africa’s World Cup history
South Africa’s best World Cup
South Africa’s high-water mark at a FIFA World Cup came in their second appearance, with Bafana Bafana achieving a 17th-place finish at Korea/Japan 2002. The highlight of that campaign was the nation’s first World Cup victory. In their second group stage match, they squared off with Slovenia and Siyabonga Nomvethe’s fourth-minute goal held until the end for a 1-0 win.
That victory had followed a thrilling 2-2 draw with Paraguay in their opener, however, a 3-2 defeat to Spain in their group stage finale saw South Africa exit the tournament in cruel fashion, as they lost out on a place in the knockout rounds to Paraguay via tiebreaker.
South Africa’s last World Cup
It was on home soil where South Africa last participated in the World Cup, and despite not reaching the next phase, they made their countrymen proud. It started out with a thrilling 1-1 draw against Mexico in the tournament’s curtain-raiser, but in their second outing a two-goal performance from Diego Forlan proved to be too much in a 3-0 loss with Uruguay. Still, South Africa made a spirited charge in their group stage finale, knocking off European heavyweights and 2006 finalists France 2-1.
South Africa’s first World Cup
South Africa made their FIFA World Cup debut at France 1998, with their first match coming against the host nation in Marseille. The Bafana Bafana hung tough and were down only 1-0 heading into the final-quarter-hour before France tacked on a pair of late goals in a 3-0 final.
History was made in their second outing, as South Africa recorded their first World Cup goal and point in a 1-1 draw with Denmark. Benni McCarthy’s 51st minute goal earned the CAF side the result. They then concluded their maiden campaign by collecting another point in a wild 2-2 draw against Saudi Arabia in which Shaun Bartlett’s penalty conversion in second-half stoppage time earned South Africa a share of the spoils.
South Africa’s World Cup top scorer
Shaun Bartlett and Benni McCarthy serve as the join-top scorers in South Africa’s World Cup history with two goals apiece. Bartlett tallied both of his goals in the dramatic 2-2 draw with Saudi Arabia at France 1998, while McCarthy’s two goals were spread across his appearances at France 1998 and Korea/Japan 2002, making him the only South African player to have scored at two different World Cups. McCarthy scored in his side’s 1-1 draw against Denmark in 1998, followed by his team’s first goal in a 3-2 loss to Spain in 2002.
South Africa’s record World Cup appearance-maker
Four players are tied for the most matches played in a FIFA World Cup: Quinton Fortune, Benni McCarthy, Lucas Radebe and Aaron Mokoena have each appeared in six matches. Fortune, McCarthy and Radebe formed part of the Bafana Bafana teams that reached back-to-back World Cups in 1998 and 2002. Meanwhile, Mokoena was a young member of the 2002 team before serving as one of the veterans of the 2010 side on home soil.
South Africa’s memorable World Cup moments
It was the goal that shook a continent. In the first FIFA World Cup on African soil, the home fans in South Africa were ready to explode with celebration in the tournament’s curtain-raiser against Mexico. It took until the second half for it to happen, and it was more than worth the wait. The man who delivered this treasure was Siphiwe Tshabalala, with a thunderbolt from the gods on his left boot and a celebration that was equally joyous as memorable.
South Africa’s biggest World Cup win
While Bafana Bafana’s first World Cup victory came eight years prior in Daegu, their finest triumph came in 2010 in Bloemfontein against 1998 champions France. Goals from Bongani Khumalo and Katlego Mphela in the first half were enough for the host nation to survive a late France charge to register a 2-1 victory.
