South Africa
South Africa’s World Cup journey is defined by cultural impact and unforgettable moments that continue to resonate across global football. The nation’s best finishes came in 1998, 2002, and 2010, all of which ended at the group stage. South Africa delivered a vibrant, culturally rich event as the first African nation to host the FIFA World Cup. Although Bafana Bafana became the first host nation not to advance beyond the group stage, their campaign still produced iconic highlights—most notably Siphiwe Tshabalala’s thunderous opening goal of the tournament, a strike celebrated as one of the World Cup’s all-time great moments. South Africa also recorded a historic 2–1 victory over France in their final group match, becoming the first host team to win its last game despite elimination.
Discover the official South Africa squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Explore player profiles, positions, and key stats for each member of the team as they prepare to compete on football’s biggest stage.
Ronwen Hayden Williams
Goalkeeper
Jan 21, 1992
Teboho Mokoena
Midfielder
Jan 24, 1997
Themba Zwane
Midfielder
Aug 3, 1989
Stuart Ricardo Goss
Goalkeeper
Apr 2, 1994
Aubrey Maphosa Modiba
Defender
Jul 22, 1995
Khuliso Johnson Mudau
Defender
Apr 26, 1995
Lyle Brent Foster
Attacker
Sep 3, 2000
Sphephelo S'Miso Sithole
Midfielder
Mar 3, 1999
Oswin Reagan Appollis
Attacker
Aug 25, 2001
Thalente Mbatha
Midfielder
Mar 6, 2000
Sekotori Evidence Makgopa
Attacker
Jun 5, 2000
Jayden Oswin Adams
Midfielder
May 5, 2001
Renaldo Leaner
Goalkeeper
Feb 12, 1998
Tshepang Moremi
Midfielder
Oct 2, 2000
Tholo Thabang Matuludi
Defender
Jan 14, 1999
Ime Okon
Defender
Feb 20, 2004
Relebohile Mofokeng
Midfielder
Oct 23, 2004
Samukelo Kabini
Defender
Mar 15, 2004
Kulumani Ndamane
Defender
Feb 5, 2004
Mbekezeli Mbokazi
Defender
Sep 19, 2005
Meet the coaching staff behind South Africa’s World Cup 2026 campaign. Learn about the head coach, assistant coaches, and support team who are responsible for preparing the squad and leading them on the path to glory.
Vela Khumalo
Birthday:
Jan 1, 1970
Nationality:
South Africa
Molefi Petrus Ntseki
Birthday:
Aug 18, 1969
Nationality:
South Africa
Helman Mkhalele
Birthday:
Oct 20, 1969
Nationality:
South Africa
Explore the most recent matches played by South Africa in the FIFA World Cup 2026. Get insights into match results, key moments, and player performances.
South Africa vs Panama
1 : 2
Mar 31, 2026 • Friendlies
Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
South Africa vs Panama
1 : 1
Mar 27, 2026 • Friendlies
Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
South Africa vs Cameroon
1 : 2
Jan 4, 2026 • Africa Cup of Nations
Al-Medina Stadium, Rabat
Zimbabwe vs South Africa
2 : 3
Dec 29, 2025 • Africa Cup of Nations
Grand Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech
Egypt vs South Africa
1 : 0
Dec 26, 2025 • Africa Cup of Nations
Stade Adrar, Agadir
South Africa vs Angola
2 : 1
Dec 22, 2025 • Africa Cup of Nations
Grand Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech
South Africa vs Ghana B
1 : 0
Dec 16, 2025 • Friendlies
South Africa vs Zambia
3 : 1
Nov 15, 2025 • Friendlies
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
South Africa vs Rwanda
3 : 0
Oct 14, 2025 • World Cup - Qualification Africa
Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela
Zimbabwe vs South Africa
0 : 0
Oct 10, 2025 • World Cup - Qualification Africa
Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
Follow South Africa’s journey to the FIFA World Cup 2026, from the qualification process to their performance in the tournament. See how they secured their spot and what challenges they faced along the way.
Played
Qualification matches played
Won
Matches won
Drawn
Matches drawn
Lost
Matches lost
Goals For
Total goals scored
Goals Against
Total goals conceded
Goal Difference
GF minus GA
Points
3 per win, 1 per draw
Road to WC
Match | Date | MatchUp | Stadium | City | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Jun 9, 2022 | Morocco vs South Africa | Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah | Rabat | 2:1 |
2 | Mar 24, 2023 | South Africa vs Liberia | Orlando Stadium | Johannesburg, GA | 2:2 |
3 | Mar 28, 2023 | Liberia vs South Africa | Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium | Monrovia | 1:2 |
4 | Jun 17, 2023 | South Africa vs Morocco | FNB Stadium | Johannesburg, GA | 2:1 |
5 | Nov 18, 2023 | South Africa vs Benin | Moses Mabhida Stadium | Durban | 2:1 |
6 | Nov 21, 2023 | Rwanda vs South Africa | Stade Huye | Butare | 2:0 |
7 | Jun 7, 2024 | Nigeria vs South Africa | Godswill Akpabio International Stadium | Uyo | 1:1 |
8 | Jun 11, 2024 | South Africa vs Zimbabwe | Toyota Stadium | Bloemfontein | 3:1 |
9 | Sep 6, 2024 | South Africa vs Uganda | Orlando Stadium | Johannesburg, GA | 2:2 |
10 | Sep 10, 2024 | South Sudan vs South Africa | Juba Stadium | Juba | 2:3 |
11 | Oct 11, 2024 | South Africa vs Congo | Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium | Gqeberha | 5:0 |
12 | Oct 15, 2024 | Congo vs South Africa | Stade Alphonse Massamba-Débat | Brazzaville | 1:1 |
13 | Nov 15, 2024 | Uganda vs South Africa | Mandela National Stadium | Kampala | 0:2 |
14 | Nov 19, 2024 | South Africa vs South Sudan | DHL Cape Town Stadium | Cape Town, WC | 3:0 |
15 | Mar 2, 2025 | South Africa vs Egypt | Free State Toyota Stadium | Bloemfontein, FS | 1:1 |
16 | Mar 9, 2025 | Egypt vs South Africa | Suez Canal Stadium | Ismailia | 1:3 |
17 | Mar 25, 2025 | Benin vs South Africa | Peter Mokaba Stadium | Polokwane | 0:2 |
18 | May 3, 2025 | Malawi vs South Africa | Bingu National Stadium | Lilongwe | 1:0 |
19 | May 11, 2025 | South Africa vs Malawi | Loftus Versfeld Stadium | Tshwane | 2:0 |
20 | Sep 5, 2025 | Lesotho vs South Africa | Toyota Stadium | Bloemfontein | 0:3 |
21 | Sep 9, 2025 | South Africa vs Nigeria | Toyota Stadium | Bloemfontein | 1:1 |
22 | Oct 10, 2025 | Zimbabwe vs South Africa | Moses Mabhida Stadium | Durban | 0:0 |
23 | Oct 14, 2025 | South Africa vs Rwanda | Mbombela Stadium | Mbombela | 3:0 |
Explore South Africa’s rich history in the FIFA World Cup, from their debut to their most memorable moments. Discover key matches, legendary players, and the team’s journey through past tournaments as they aim for glory in 2026.
Percy Tau
South Africa’s main attacking leader of the modern era. Known for pace and pressing, Tau played in Europe and North Africa and remains the team’s most consistent attacking threat during recent AFCON tournaments and World Cup qualification.
Ronwen Williams
Captain and defensive backbone of the team. Williams gained continental recognition for decisive penalty saves at AFCON 2023. One of Africa’s top modern goalkeepers and crucial to South Africa’s qualification hopes.
Themba Zwane
Zwane is a creative link between midfield and attack, known for ball control, positioning, and late runs into the box. He is a long-time domestic star and one of the most reliable creators in the national setup.
Teboho Mokoena
Mokoena is a midfield controller with strong passing range and defensive balance. He is a key distributor in buildup play and one of the most influential players in the current generation.
Mothobi Mvala
As a physical and disciplined central defender, Mvala provides aerial strength and defensive structure, especially in qualification matches where defensive stability is critical.
Lyle Foster
Foster represents the future of South African attack. Strong, mobile forward with European experience. Important for pressing systems and transition play during qualification.
Benni McCarthy
South Africa’s all-time leading scorer, McCarthy is known for his big-tournament impact and remains the country’s most productive striker in international history. He also became a global benchmark by winning the UEFA Champions League with Porto.
Lucas Radebe
A defensive icon and national-team leader, Radebe was a key figure of South Africa’s golden era and part of the AFCON 1996 triumph. His authority, consistency, and global respect made him one of the most celebrated Bafana Bafana captains ever.
Doctor Khumalo
A classic midfield playmaker with intelligence and technique, “Doctor” was renowned for controlling rhythm, unlocking defenses, and providing creativity in South Africa’s top era. He remains one of the nation’s most iconic football artists.
Neil Tovey
The captain who lifted AFCON 1996, Tovey symbolizes South Africa’s greatest national-team triumph. His leadership and defensive reliability made him a historic figure in Bafana Bafana identity.
South Africa will play its World Cup 2026 matches in the following stadiums across North America. Each venue offers a unique atmosphere and experience for fans, with state-of-the-art facilities and passionate local support. Check the schedule to see which stadiums will host South Africa’s group stage and potential knockout matches.
FIFA is employing a dynamic pricing model, so prices can go up or down depending on demand. Due to this, there is no specific price point as yet. Fans can expect prices to vary across tournament phases and matches. As a result, the lowest official stadium prices, for example, are anticipated to start from around $60, while premium hospitality packages can run up to $7,875.
All tickets are digital tickets through the official FIFA Ticketing App.
You can resell them.
You can buy tickets for multiple matches. FIFA allows up to 4 tickets per match and a total of 40 tickets per FIFA account.
There's no predicting the future participants in advance. But if your favorite team doesn't make the cut, you can just resell your tickets on Ticombo.
A total of 104 matches will take place.
The tickets are non-refundable, but FIFA has its own official resale platform.
You can use live chat or call during official business hours, or send an email.
Yes, standard entry and visa requirements for the host countries still apply. In some cases, holding a valid World Cup ticket may offer priority visa processing, depending on the country’s regulations.
48 teams will participate.
All FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets are delivered digitally through the official FIFA Ticketing App.
You are able to buy tickets at any time. We recommend buying them well in advance of match day. This ensures availability and allows you to enjoy the event without any last-minute stress.
If you purchase multiple tickets from the same listing on Ticombo, the tickets will always be seated together.
In some cases, tickets may be delivered before they are officially available in the app. To ensure seats remain together, all tickets from the same order should be sent to one single email address.
Once tickets are available in the app, the main recipient can forward the tickets to other guests. If tickets are delivered early to different email addresses, seating together cannot be ensured once they are released in the app.
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