Bafana Bafana’s journey to the 2026 FIFA Football World Cup

It will be exactly 16 years to the day when Bafana Bafana takes on Mexico on the 11th of June in the opening match of the 2026 Football World Cup. No one can forget the moment when Siphiwe Tshabalala scored the iconic first goal of the tournament which lit up South Africa.

The match ended in a draw but it was enough to make the country believe. South Africa would become the host country to not make it through to the knock out phase of the competition. The dream of winning in Mzansi was lost but it renewed the hope to one day play in the competition remained. Let us have a closer look at Bafana World Cup 2026 journey thus far.

Hugo Broos

Qualifying for the 2026 world cup has been long in the making. Our national team were unable to secure qualification in the next three world cup events. Bafana Bafana needed an urgent revamp after failing to not only reach the pinnacle of football but being unable to reach the AFCON Championship. Our salvation came in 2021 when Belgium Coach Hugo Broos stepped in as head coach of Bafana. His objectives were clear, qualify for the AFCON and qualify for the 2026 world cup.

Hugo built the squad up from the ground up when he took the reins. The first objective was to qualify for the AFCON was not far off. The squad managed to secure qualification for the games and made it through to the semis where they lost against Nigeria. South Africa played DR Congo for third spot where they managed to get the bronze.

AFCON World Cup Qualifiers

The bronze achieved in the AFCON gave the team the boost and confidence for their world cup qualifiers. Bafana was up against 5 other African countries in Group C in the World Cup Qualifiers. The countries include Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Benin, Lesotho and Rwanda. Each team would play a total of 10 matches in the qualifiers and the team that finishes at the top position would earn their spot in the 2026 Football World Cup.

The first few matches of the qualifiers went South Africa’s way but match 5 against Lesotho changed all of that. South Africa played Lesotho on the 25 of March in 2025 and made an administration error by fielding a suspended player. The results of the match was overturned which left Bafana with a big headache. They would have comfortably have made it through but qualifying now came down to what other teams did in their matches. It all came down to the last match for Bafana Bafana to qualify for the 2026 world cup. South Africa needed to beat Rwanda and hope that Benin does not win their match against Nigeria. The soccer gods smiled on South Africa that day. Nigeria held Benin to a draw and Bafana beat Rwanda thereby earning their spot in the football world cup.

South Africa is Group A in the 2026 FIFA World Cup

South Africa finds themselves in Group A alongside Mexico, South Korea and Czechia.

Their opening match against Mexico is on the 11^th of June at 20:00. The match takes place at the iconic Estadio Banorte or Mexico City Stadium. The odds are heavily in favour of Mexico with pundits giving SA a 12% chance of winning.

Bafana Bafana then travels to Atlanta for face Czechia at the Mercedes Benz Stadium. The match will take place on the 18^th of June at 18:00. Their chances of beating the European team are slightly better sitting at 23% to win.

Bafana’s last Group Stage match is against South Korea on the 25^th of June. The match takes place at the Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe. The match will be played very late in South African time at 3am. Our boys currently have a 24% of winning the match.

Can they reach the Round of 32?

Bafana’s last friendly match against Nicaragua ended in a draw but positives can be taken away from the match. South Africa goes into the world cup as underdogs. Reaching the Round of 32 will be a statement that South Africa’s football is growing. My bet is behind Bafana Bafana to reach Round 32. But all we can do now is wait for the kickoff on the 11^th of June.

10bet: Proud Partner of Bafana Bafana

As an official partner of Bafana Bafana, 10bet has become a popular choice for South African football fans ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The bookmaker regularly celebrates local football through dedicated promotions, exclusive campaigns, and betting opportunities centred around the national team. As a result, supporters can enjoy an even closer connection to the action while backing Bafana Bafana on their World Cup journey.

In addition to its football focus, 10bet offers competitive odds across international and local football markets, live betting, cash out functionality, and a user-friendly mobile experience. New customers can also take advantage of welcome offers and ongoing promotions throughout the tournament, making 10bet a strong option for football betting enthusiasts supporting South Africa on the world stage. They are also offering an excellent World Cup Welcome Offer!

Top Football Betting Sites

As Bafana Bafana continue their exciting journey towards the 2026 World Cup, football fans across South Africa will be looking for the best places to back their favourite team and enjoy every moment of the action. Choosing the right betting site can make a big difference to your overall experience, whether you enjoy match winner bets, correct score predictions, player markets, or outright tournament betting.

Fortunately, South African punters have access to several trusted football betting sites that offer competitive odds, generous promotions, live betting features, and easy banking options. Below, we highlight some of the top football betting sites for the 2026 World Cup, helping you find the perfect platform to support Bafana Bafana every step of the way.