Sixteen years. That’s how long South Africans have waited to see Bafana Bafana on a World Cup teamsheet. With the tournament expanding to 48 teams and Hugo Broos’ side ready to fly to North America, the only question left is the one that’s been keeping every couch coach in Mzansi up at night: who makes the 26?
Lorenz Köhler unpacks the full squad debate on The Bettor Pod — premiering today at 2pm. Here’s our position-by-position take to get you primed before he drops his predictions.
Goalkeepers (3)
The lock: Ronwen Williams. AFCON 2023 hero, club captain, national captain — the Sundowns shot-stopper is undroppable, full stop.
The debate: Who deputises? Broos has rotated between Ricardo Goss and Sipho Chaine, and the third spot is genuinely up for grabs depending on club form across the final weeks of the PSL season.
Defenders (8)
The locks: Khuliso Mudau, Aubrey Modiba, Mothobi Mvala, Siyanda Xulu. Broos has trusted this spine through the qualifiers and the four play as a unit.
The bolters: Nkosinathi Sibisi has forced his way into contention with consistent Orlando Pirates performances, and Siyabonga Ngezana’s European experience at FCSB is the kind of profile Broos values for a World Cup. Mbekezeli Mbokazi is the wildcard — young, raw, but talented enough to leapfrog more established names.
The big call: Does Broos take five centre-backs or four? The answer changes everything for whoever’s on the bubble.
Midfielders (7)
The lock: Teboho Mokoena. Bafana’s metronome. Non-negotiable.
The debate: Sphephelo Sithole has carved out a starting role from Portugal, Themba Zwane’s experience cannot be ignored despite the kilometres on the clock, and Patrick Maswanganyi is in the form of his life. Then you have Bongani Zungu’s veteran presence still in the mix.
Lorenz’s hot take on the pod: the answer to “who partners Mokoena” might not be the name you’re expecting.
Attackers (8)
The locks: Lyle Foster (the Burnley man is Bafana’s clearest goal threat), Percy Tau (still the captain of the attacking line), Themba Zwane (yes, also here — he plays anywhere).
The headline debate: Lyle Foster or Iqraam Rayners as the lone nine? Rayners has scored goals for fun at Sundowns, but Foster’s Premier League pedigree is hard to ignore. The likely answer is both make the plane and Broos rotates based on opposition.
The wildcards: Relebohile Mofokeng has the kind of raw talent that wins single games at a World Cup. Oswin Appollis adds an X-factor from the bench. Evidence Makgopa’s aerial presence is a useful Plan B.
The 26-Man Squad: Our Quick Picks
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| GK | Williams, Goss, Chaine |
| DEF | Mudau, Modiba, Mvala, Xulu, Sibisi, Ngezana, Mbokazi, Kekana |
| MID | Mokoena, Sithole, Zwane, Maswanganyi, Zungu, Mayambela, Mobbie |
| ATT | Foster, Tau, Rayners, Mofokeng, Appollis, Makgopa, Mothiba, Williams (S) |
That’s our 26 — but Lorenz might disagree, and that’s exactly what makes today’s pod must-watch.
Watch The Bettor Pod — “Squad Prediction for 2026 WC | Bafana Bafana edition” premiering today at 2pm on the 10bet YouTube channel.
Backing Bafana at the World Cup? Head to 10bet.co.za for outright winner odds, group-stage markets, top goalscorer specials, and same-game multi-bet options for every Bafana fixture in North America.
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