Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has confirmed Nicaragua and Puerto Rico as their next two possible opponents in friendly matches before their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Mexico.
With just 43 days to go before the biggest global football spectacle takes centre stage in the US, Mexico and Canada, Broos is fine tuning his squad preparations before they head off to the Americas.
South Africa has been pitted in Group A alongside co-hosts Mexico, South Korea and the Czech Republic.
They open their global showpiece account against El Tricolor on June 11, a repeat of the 2010 WC opening match on home soil which ended 1-1.
Czechia will be up next for Broos’ charges on June 18 before they wrap up the group stage against South Korea on June 25.
Broos’ charges have already played two warm up friendlies against Panama, a 1-1 draw, and then a 2-1 defeat.
The Belgian mentor unpacked details of their travel arrangements and the two teams they are likely to face.
“We are now trying to have some friendly games, so normally, we should play against Nicaragua the 29th of next month [May],” he said on #MSW with legendary sportscaster Robert Marawa.
“And then maybe we can have another game in Mexico, in Pachuca in our base camp against Puerto Rico.
“So, we are occupied to it now to negotiations and see if everything is okay and then starting to make the trainings programme.
“We’ll see what we will do, when we will do it and certainly we have to take into account we have that high altitude camp, so we need to start that camp the 1st of June, so we need to be in Pachuca on the 31st of May.
“The first days it will be difficult to train at 100% because of the altitude, so that is what we will do now in the next week.
“Making that programme together with the physical coach, with Helman [Mkhalele] the assistant. I see that everything is done 25th [May] when the players will be released by the clubs.”
As of April 2026, Nicaragua are ranked 131 while Puerto Rico are 156. Bafana are in 60th place.
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