Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos says his team face a tough task in their bid to reach the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in history. Bafana Bafana’s straight-talking coach Hugo Broos did not mince his words when analysing his team’s 2026 Fifa World Cup group. The Belgian said it would be “difficult” for South Africa to seize control of Group A.
Bafana Bafana will play the opening game of the tournament, against World Cup co-hosts Mexico on 11 June. Also in Group A is South Korea. The fourth team to join the mini league will be determined in an upcoming playoff.
The contenders for that final slot in Bafana Bafana’s group are Denmark, North Macedonia, Czech Republic and Republic of Ireland. Only one will remain standing post the playoff, which is scheduled for March 2026. “It’s not an easy one.
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First of all we have to play the opening game of the tournament, against Mexico at the Azteca Stadium. It will be a very tough game,” said Broos after the draw in Washington DC. “We have Mexico and probably Denmark [will join].
These are two big teams, so it will be difficult for us to be in first or second place. “But on the other hand, under this new format of the World Cup, the eight best third-placed teams qualify. So, we have to focus on that,” added the Belgian.
Under the expanded World Cup — which has swelled from the norm of 32, to a massive 48 teams — a total of 32 countries will reach the knockout stage. This includes the top two sides in each of the 12 groups, plus the eight best third-placed teams. “It will be a very good experience for our team.
It’s something we need, to play against such teams. We will learn a lot and then we will see. In football, anything is possible.
We will fight, like we’ve done in recent years,” Broos stated. The 73-year-old tactician is right to be apprehensive about his team’s prospects. South Africa have previously participated in three soccer World Cup editions.
They have never reached the knockout round of a World Cup. Banyana Banyana is the only senior side that holds that honour after their valiant 2023 Women’s World Cup showing. Bafana Bafana debuted on the global stage in 1998.
They were also present four years later in South Korea and Japan. After failing to qualify for the 2006 showpiece in Germany, they made it to the global stage again in 2010 – as the first African country to host a soccer World Cup. Since then, it has been a drought for the South Africans when it comes to World Cup participation, until Belgian Broos helped to snap this barren run by masterminding a rare qualification for Bafana.
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