Bafana Bafana are set to arrive at OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday morning following their historic run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
South Africa captured the nation’s imagination by reaching the knockout stages of the tournament for the first time before bowing out to co-hosts Canada in the Round of 32.
On Wednesday, Bafana Bafana’s official X account confirmed that the squad had departed from Los Angeles and was expected to land in South Africa on Thursday morning.
The team left South Africa on 1 June and spent the entire month in Mexico and the United States, where they played four World Cup matches.
South Africa endured a difficult start to the tournament with a 2-0 defeat to Mexico before earning a hard-fought 1-1 draw against the Czech Republic. Hugo Broos’ men then produced their standout performance of the group stage, defeating South Korea 1-0 to secure a historic place in the Round of 32.
Bafana lost to Canada in the round of 32
Their World Cup journey came to an end with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Canada in Los Angeles.
Despite the disappointing exit, Bafana’s campaign is widely regarded as a major success. Reaching the knockout stages marked a significant milestone for South African football, although the performance against Canada highlighted that there is still room for improvement if the national team hopes to compete consistently with the world’s elite.
Attention will now turn to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, which begin in September, as Broos and his squad look to build on the confidence gained from their memorable World Cup campaign.
