Bafana Bafana back on global stage as NYC mayor looks to recreate 2010 World Cup magic

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani has teamed up with Gianni Infantino and George Weah to launch an official 2026 World Cup watch party hub right near Central Park. Photo: AFP New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has vowed to recreate the spirit of the 2010 Fifa World Cup by announcing official watch parties in Central Park for this year’s edition. The global showpiece kicks off onThursday night (9 pm kick-off)when co-hosts Mexico face South Africa at the Estadio Azteca.

Bafana Bafanawill get their tournament underway against the co-hosts in thehighly anticipated opening game. This symbolic match is a repeat of the memorable 2010 clash in Johannesburg, South Africa. Born in Kampala, Uganda, Mamdani aims to relive the memories of 16 years ago on African soil.

Alongside dignitaries, including Fifa President Gianni Infantino and African football legend George Weah, he recently inaugurated a location near Central Park in New York as the official watch party venue for local residents. “I will always remember being 18-years old and watching the 2010 World Cup with friends in Durban, South Africa,” Mamdani said. “The sound of endless vuvuzelas, playing beach soccer on the sand, and the smell of meat cooking on the braai are memories that I will never forget.

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With this watch party, we’ll create the same memories for the next generation of New Yorkers.” A winning opening match for Bafana would greatly boost the team’s hopes ofreaching the knockout stageof the competition for the first time in their four tournament appearances: 1998, 2002, 2010, and 2026. Mamdani and the organisers are therefore hoping Bafana, and the other nine African representatives in the competition, will feel the 2010 spirit and support even from miles away.

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