Sixteen years. That is how long South Africa has been away from the biggest stage in soccer, since Bafana opened the 2010 tournament at Soccer City with that Siphiwe Tshabalala thunderbolt. The wait is almost over.
On 11 June 2026 in Mexico City, Bafana Bafana walk back into a World Cup. Same opener as 2010. Same opponent. Different team. Different country. Same dream that everyone in SA has been carrying quietly for a decade and a half. Here is everything you need to know before the boys kick off.
Quick answer: Bafana are in Group A alongside Mexico, the Czech Republic and South Korea. First match is against Mexico on 11 June at 21:00 SAST. Hugo Broos has named a 23-man squad mixing local PSL talent with new European and MLS movers. Relebohile Mofokeng is the player every Bafana fan is watching.
Bookmaker consensus has Bafana as outsiders to top the group but a real chance of finishing as one of the eight best third-placed teams that progress under the new 48-team format.
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01The 16-year story: SA at the World Cup
This is Bafana’s fourth World Cup, but the first in 24 years where they qualified on sporting merit rather than as hosts. The break since 2010 has felt longer than it actually is.
The story so far:
- France 1998. The debut. A 0-3 loss to eventual champions France, then two honest draws: 1-1 against Denmark, 2-2 against Saudi Arabia. Not enough to progress, but Bafana had arrived.
- Korea/Japan 2002. 2-2 with Paraguay, then the first-ever Bafana World Cup win: 1-0 over Slovenia. A 2-3 loss to Spain in the final group game and Paraguay’s 3-1 win over Slovenia eliminated Bafana on goal difference. One goal between Bafana and the last 16.
- South Africa 2010. The home tournament. 1-1 with Mexico in the opener at Soccer City. 0-3 to Uruguay. A proud 2-1 over France that came one win too late. Bafana became the first ever World Cup host nation not to progress from the group, again on goal difference.
Total Bafana World Cup record: 3 appearances, 9 matches, 2 wins, 4 draws, 3 losses. Goals for and against: 11-16.
The break since 2010 has been long and at times brutal. Missing Brazil 2014. Missing Russia 2018. Missing Qatar 2022. A 2024 Africa Cup of Nations bronze-medal run rebuilt the belief, and the 2026 qualification campaign sealed it.
02Group A: the fixtures and the opponents
The expanded 48-team format means 12 groups of four, with the top two and the eight best third-placed sides progressing to the last 32. Bafana sit in Group A alongside the host Mexico, the Czech Republic and South Korea.
The three fixtures, all times in SAST:
WED
Group A, opening match of the tournament. Estadio Azteca, Mexico City.
WED
Group A. The middle fixture. The one Bafana need points from.
WED
Group A. Late kick-off on the West Coast, very early morning at home.
SAST times are based on confirmed kick-off slots. Markets and exact start times may shift in the days before each match. Always check the latest schedule on the World Cup hub before you lock in your watching plan.
03Hugo Broos: the farewell tour
Bafana are coached by the 74-year-old Belgian, Hugo Broos. A serious career as a player (Anderlecht, Club Brugge) and an even longer career as a coach across Belgium and Africa. He won the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations with Cameroon, took the Bafana job four years ago, and rebuilt a national team that nobody expected to qualify.
On the way to qualifying, Broos beat Nigeria’s group to claim Africa’s slot. Then he announced he would retire after the 2026 World Cup. So this is a coach with no future to protect, no contract to extend, no political balance to keep. He has one job: get Bafana as far as he can, then go home.
That is a different kind of coach to bet against.
04The star: Relebohile Mofokeng
Most big African squads at World Cups arrive carrying European-league superstars. Bafana do not. The bulk of the squad still plays in the PSL, and the players who have made the move abroad are still building their international profile.
The one name that every SA fan whispers when they talk about “what if” is Relebohile Mofokeng. The 21-year-old Orlando Pirates winger was central to the Pirates’ treble run, plays with a swagger that translates instantly to international stages, and has been linked with a summer move to Europe for the entire build-up.
Mofokeng himself has been open about wanting to take his career to Europe. Hugo Broos has said the sooner that move happens, the better his shot at becoming a genuine global star. The 2026 World Cup is exactly the stage where that breakout could begin.
If you are watching Bafana for the first time and you want one player to track, watch Mofokeng. Even when he is off the ball, he changes how the opposition defends.
05The full squad, every player, every club
Hugo Broos’s 23-man squad mixes domestic experience with new European and MLS arrivals. A few notable details: Mbekezeli Mbokazi has joined Chicago Fire in MLS, Ime Okon has moved to Hannover in Germany, Olwethu Makhanya is at Philadelphia Union, and Samukele Kabini has signed for Molde in Norway. Pirates and Sundowns still anchor the squad.
Goalkeepers
- Ronwen Williams (captain, Mamelodi Sundowns)
- Sipho Chaine (Orlando Pirates)
- Ricardo Goss (Sekhukhune United)
Defenders
- Tabang Matuludi (Polokwane City)
- Khulumani Ndamane (Mamelodi Sundowns)
- Aubrey Modiba (Mamelodi Sundowns)
- Khuliso Mudau (Mamelodi Sundowns)
- Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Chicago Fire)
- Samukele Kabini (Molde)
- Ime Okon (Hannover)
- Olwethu Makhanya (Philadelphia Union)
- Kamogelo Sebelebele (Orlando Pirates)
- Nkosinathi Sibisi (Orlando Pirates)
- Bradley Cross (Kaizer Chiefs)
Midfielders
- Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns)
- Jayden Adams (Mamelodi Sundowns)
- Talente Mbatha (Orlando Pirates)
- Yaya Sitole (Tondela)
Forwards
- Oswin Appollis (Orlando Pirates)
- Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates)
- Tshepang Moremi (Orlando Pirates)
- Evidence Makgopa (Orlando Pirates)
- Lyle Foster (Burnley)
- Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns)
- Iqraam Rayners (Mamelodi Sundowns)
- Tapelo Maseko (AEL Limassol)
06What the bookmakers are saying
Bafana are outsiders, no surprise. The interesting part is where they sit inside Group A and how the new third-placed qualification route shifts the math.
| Market | Bookmaker consensus | What it means in plain language |
|---|---|---|
| Outright winner | Around 501.00 | The dream punt. A R5 stake returns R2,500+ if it ever lands. It will not. Story bet only. |
| Qualify from group | Around 2.20 | Stronger than people assume. Two of four progress automatically, plus the third-placed route. |
| Not qualify from group | Around 1.61 | Still the more likely outcome. SA need points from at least two of three games. |
| Bafana to beat Mexico (opener) | Around 7.00 | The longest odds of the three. Mexico are at home in front of 87,000. |
| Bafana to beat Czech Republic | Around 4.00 | The most realistic shot of the three for an outright win. |
| Bafana to beat South Korea | Around 3.70 | Slightly shorter than Czech, depending on group standings going in. |
These are general bookmaker prices and they will move closer to kick-off as line-ups, injuries and group standings come in. Always check the latest odds on the Bafana page before placing a bet. Markets may change.
See current Bafana odds Browse outright winner odds
07Three matches, three different challenges
11 June: Mexico at the Azteca
The mountain. 87,000 home fans, two miles above sea level, and a Mexico side that wants to set the tournament tone. Bafana’s job here is not to win the game. It is to stay competitive, leave on level terms if possible, and get the team confidence-bank topped up for fixture two.
Best market for SA bettors who like Bafana but realistic odds: draw no bet, both teams to score, or under 2.5 goals.
18 June: Czech Republic in Group A’s middle game
The one Bafana need. The Czech Republic are organised but beatable, and on a neutral feel (the host nation effect is gone), this is Bafana’s clearest path to three points in the group stage.
Best market for SA bettors who want value on Bafana: match result Bafana, draw no bet, or Bafana to score first.
25 June: South Korea, the last game, the brutal 03:00 kick-off
The decider. By the time this game kicks off (03:00 SAST, brace yourself), Group A will have shape. South Korea are quick, organised and competitive at the top international level. If Bafana need a result here, the pressure will be enormous.
Best market for SA bettors: depends entirely on what Bafana need from the game. Watch the Mexico vs Czech Republic table position before you place.
08Where to bet on Bafana
10bet is an official partner of Bafana Bafana, and the Bafana team page inside the World Cup hub collects every market for every fixture in one place. Match odds, qualification markets, top scorer angles, outright tournament position, and live markets during the game itself.
For new SA players, a welcome pack across sports and games sits on the bonuses page: a Free Bet, Free Spins, and up to R5,000 in bonus value. Eligibility, wagering and expiry terms apply. Read the bonus page in full before claiming.
Open the Bafana page See the welcome offer
09FAQs
What group is Bafana Bafana in for the 2026 World Cup?
Group A. The other teams are Mexico (host), the Czech Republic and South Korea. The top two from the group progress to the last 32, plus the third-placed side qualifies if they finish in the top eight third-placed teams across all 12 groups.
When does Bafana Bafana play their first World Cup match?
Wednesday 11 June 2026 against Mexico in Mexico City. Kick-off is 21:00 SAST. It is the opening match of the entire 2026 tournament and the first repeat of an opening match in World Cup history (Bafana opened the 2010 tournament against Mexico in Johannesburg).
Who is the Bafana coach for the 2026 World Cup?
Hugo Broos, the 74-year-old Belgian who won the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations with Cameroon. He has announced he will retire after the 2026 tournament, so this is his farewell run with Bafana.
Who is the Bafana star player to watch?
Relebohile Mofokeng, the 21-year-old Orlando Pirates winger. He was central to Pirates’ treble run, has been linked with a summer move to Europe, and is the player Hugo Broos and the rest of South Africa expect to break out at the World Cup.
What are Bafana’s odds to win the 2026 World Cup?
Around 501.00 in current bookmaker pricing, the longest odds of any team in the tournament. A R10 dream bet for the story. Outrights to qualify from the group are far shorter at around 2.20, and worth more serious consideration. Always check the latest odds on the 10bet Bafana page before placing.
Has Bafana ever progressed past the group stage at a World Cup?
No. Bafana have been eliminated in the group stage at all three previous appearances (1998, 2002, 2010). Two of those eliminations were on goal difference. They have never been thrashed at a World Cup, just agonisingly close to the last 16 twice.
How can I bet on Bafana at the 2026 World Cup in South Africa?
Through any licensed SA operator. 10bet runs a dedicated Bafana page inside the World Cup 2026 hub, with every market for every fixture, outright tournament markets, and live in-play markets during the games themselves. The minimum bet is R5.
What time are the Bafana games in SA?
11 June (Mexico): 21:00 SAST. 18 June (Czech Republic): 18:00 SAST. 25 June (South Korea): 03:00 SAST. The last game is a brutal early-morning kick-off due to the West Coast venue. Set an alarm.
Sixteen years of waiting ends on 11 June. Pick your markets, set your budget, and back the boys who have been ours since 2010.
Back Bafana on 10bet Register on 10betFor more guides, read Lorenz Köhler’s predicted XI on The Bettor Pod, the 10bet World Cup 2026 hub tour, the full Bafana World Cup betting guide, and the Bafana Bafana squad analysis from 14 May.
