Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has admitted his side’s group at the 2026 FIFA World Cup is tougher than many people think.
Bafana have been placed in Group A, alongside Mexico, Korea Republic, plus the winner of the European playoff between Denmark vs NorthMacedonia and Czech Republic vs Ireland (with the two winners playing for the final spot).
Broos has insisted although the opening game against Mexico – a replay of the 2010 FIFA World Cup opener – has excited a lot of South Africans, it’s a very tricky match and he expects Denmark to join Group A to make it even tougher, leaving Bafana to target one of the best third-placed spots.
“It’s not an easy one,” Broos told SAFA after the draw in the United States.
“First of all, you have to play the first game of the tournament against Mexico in a stadium, home game for Mexico, so it will be very tough for us that game.
“Secondly, we have South Korea. So from that point, I was happy with Mexico and South Korea, and I hope the last one, it should be something else than what we have now. So now probably we will have also Denmark in our group.
“So we have with Mexico and Denmark, two very big teams. So it will be difficult for us to be in second or first, but at the other side now, with the new the new World Cup, the first eight of third places can go through.
“So we have to focus on that, and maybe we can be one of the best first and third places.”
When asked whether Bafana avoided a so-called Group of Death, Broos reiterated that it’s a very tough group.
“I think it will be difficult on the World Cup, so we don’t have to forget that,” he continued.
“It should have been better if the last draw of our group should have been another team. Now we have Denmark, probably.
“We have Mexico first game against Mexico, I can’t say we will win. This will be very difficult, so maybe the first game you lose, and then it’s already a game that you have to win.
“So it’s not so easy, but at the other side, I think it will be a very good experience for our team. It’s something we need to play against.
“Those things, we will learn a lot, certainly, and we will see in football everything is possible. We will go for it. We will, like we did the last two years, we will fight for it, and we will see.”
