JOHANNESBURG, May 28 — The South African national football team on Wednesday held a send-off dinner in Pretoria, the country’s administrative capital, where 74-year-old head coach Hugo Broos officially announced the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The squad is largely built around players from domestic powerhouses Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns, continuing the team’s tradition of relying on a core of home-based talent. South Africa has been drawn into Group A alongside Mexico, South Korea and the Czech Republic. On June 11, South Africa will face host Mexico in its opening group match at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, exactly 16 years to the day since the two sides met in the opening match of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. This will be South Africa’s fourth appearance at the World Cup finals, but it has yet to progress beyond the group stage. The 2026 tournament marks South Africa’s first return to football’s biggest stage since hosting the event in 2010.
Following is the 26-man South African squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup: Goalkeepers: Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns), Ricardo Goss (Siwelele), Sipho Chaine (Orlando Pirates); Defenders: Khuliso Mudau (Mamelodi Sundowns), Nkosinathi Sibisi (Orlando Pirates), Ime Okon (Hannover 96), Khulumani Ndamane (Mamelodi Sundowns), Aubrey Modiba (Mamelodi Sundowns), Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Chicago Fire), Samukele Kabini (Molde FK), Thabang Matuludi (Polokwane City), Olwethu Makhanya (Philadelphia Union), Bradley Cross (Kaizer Chiefs);
Midfielders: Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns), Talente Mbatha (Orlando Pirates), Sphephelo Sithole (CD Tondela), Jayden Adams (Mamelodi Sundowns); Forwards: Kamogelo Sebelebele (Orlando Pirates), Oswin Appollis (Orlando Pirates), Iqraam Rayners (Mamelodi Sundowns), Tshepang Moremi (Orlando Pirates), Evidence Makgopa (Orlando Pirates), Lyle Foster (Burnley), Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates), Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thapelo Maseko (AEL Limassol).
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