South Africa kick off against co-hosts Mexico on 11 June, before Group A clashes with the Czech Republic in Atlanta on 18 June.
South Africa have named uncapped defenders Olwethu Makhanya and Bradley Cross in their final 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, announced on Wednesday, 27 May.
Also included is 36-year-old playmaker Themba Zwane. Few surprises from coach Hugo Broos, who has largely stuck with the core that secured Bafana Bafana’s first World Cup appearance in 16 years.
"The occasion reflects the nation’s support for the players, coaches, and technical team who will carry South Africa’s hopes onto the global stage at the FIFA World Cup," President Cyril Ramaphosa said at the ceremony in Pretoria.
South Africa kick off against co-hosts Mexico on 11 June, before Group A clashes with the Czech Republic in Atlanta on 18 June and South Korea in Monterrey on 24 June.
Bolstering defensive positions
Centre-back Makhanya, 22, plies his trade with Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer, while Cross, 25, a former Newcastle United academy product, now lines up at left-back for Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs. Neither featured in qualifying, but Broos has called them up to bolster his defensive options.
Regular left-back Aubrey Modiba makes the cut despite missing Sunday’s second leg of the CAF Champions League final for Mamelodi Sundowns with a hamstring strain.
Burnley striker Lyle Foster will spearhead the attack, while Broos believes Zwane’s experience and guile will be vital. Nineteen of the 26 players ply their trade in the South African Premiership.
"Well, there were some hard decisions to make, and it is always when you select that you make a list of players. You have to always disappoint players, and I know the disappointment for those players who had to drop tonight will be very hard. So it’s a World Cup; who doesn’t want to go to the World Cup?" South Africa's national team coach, Hugo Broos, said.
The World Cup will be a swansong for Belgian tactician Broos, 74, who has confirmed he will retire after the tournament, Reuters reports.
The former defender last played at a World Cup in 1986, also hosted by Mexico, when he helped Belgium to fourth place before defeat to Diego Maradona’s Argentina in the semi-finals.
South Africa have appeared at three previous World Cups, debuting in 1998. They also qualified in 2002 and hosted the tournament in 2010, but exited at the group stage each time.
