The FIFA World Cup is starting to take shape. However, five nations are officially heading home. Bafana Bafana are still in the hunt for a spot in the last 32.
Bafana are still in the running at the FIFA World Cup 2026
South Africa’s matchday 2 draw against the Czech Republic leaves them with a fighting chance of progressing to the knockout phase of the 2026 World Cup. Things started disastrously for Bafana, with a 2-0 defeat against Mexico, which saw Hugo Broos’ men finish the match with nine players. A rather large spanner in the works for Broos is how to line up his midfield unit without midfield maestro Teboho Mokoena. The Sundowns man is unavailable for the clash against the Republic of Korea after an accumulation of bookings. Bafana vs Korea kicks off at 03:00 in the wee hours of Thursday morning. Set your alarms, or drink a lot of coffee. Five nations are officially heading home. They are the gallant Haiti, North Africans Tunisia, Jordan, Panama and a talented yet under-achieving Turkiye side.
All you need to know about the Bafana squad
19 of the 26-man squad named by Hugo Broos play in the Betway Premiership.
Ex-Orlando Pirates star Lyle Foster is the only British-based player, recently relegated from the Premier League with Burnley.
Uncapped 22-year-old defender Olwethu Makhanya is on the books of United States MLS side Philadelphia Union. The squad contains eight players from the newly crowned champions, Orlando Pirates. Mamelodi Sundowns, champions in eight of the last nine PSL campaigns, also have eight representatives
