Written and Fact-checked by Whereig Editors | Last Updated On: June 02, 2026
South Africa made history as the first African nation to host the FIFA World Cup in 2010, and now return to the tournament for just the fourth time in 2026 - this time as opponents to hosts Mexico in the very opening match on June 11. This page covers Bafana Bafana's complete World Cup stats, all-time records, top scorers, head-to-head results, the full 2026 squad, and their Group A schedule against Mexico, South Korea, and Czechia.
South Africa enters the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification cycle with a developing squad and ambitions to return to the global stage. Explore South Africa’s latest squad list, fixtures, records, results, and all-time FIFA World Cup statistics.
South Africa continues to remain one of Africa’s well-known football nations with a balanced squad featuring domestic league stars and international-based players. The national side aims to build on recent continental performances and compete for World Cup qualification.
The team is known for its athletic style, disciplined defending, and fast attacking transitions. South Africa’s football history and growing young talent continue to keep the nation competitive within African football competitions.
South Africa FIFA World Cup Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Country | South Africa |
| Football Association | South African Football Association (SAFA) |
| Confederation | CAF |
| Nickname | Bafana Bafana |
| FIFA Ranking | Top 60 |
| First FIFA World Cup Appearance | 1998 |
| Total FIFA World Cup Appearances | 3 |
| Consecutive Appearances | 2 (1998-2002) |
| Best FIFA World Cup Finish | Group Stage |
| Total Matches Played | 9 |
| Total Wins | 2 |
| Total Draws | 4 |
| Total Losses | 3 |
| Goals Scored | 11 |
| Goals Conceded | 16 |
| Win Percentage | 22.2% |
| Clean Sheets | 2 |
| Penalty Shootout Record | None |
| Most World Cup Matches by Player | Aaron Mokoena - 9 |
| Most Goals by Player | Benny McCarthy - 2 |
| Largest Victory | 2-1 vs France (2010) |
| Biggest Defeat | 0-3 vs Uruguay (2010) |
| Latest FIFA World Cup Appearance | 2010 |
South Africa FIFA World Cup 2026 Full Squad List
Coach: Hugo Broos
Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal), Munir El Kajoui (RS Berkane), Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti (AS FAR).
Defenders: Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United), Anass Salah-Eddine (PSV Eindhoven), Youssef Belammari (Al Ahly), Nayef Aguerd (Olympique de Marseille), Chadi Riad (Crystal Palace), Issa Diop (Fulham), Redouane Halhal (KV Mechelen), Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain), Zakaria El Ouahdi (Genk).
Midfielders: Samir El Mourabet (Strasbourg), Ayyoub Bouaddi (Lille), Neil El Aynaoui (AS Roma), Sofyan Amrabat (Real Betis), Azzedine Ounahi (Girona), Bilal El Khannouss (VfB Stuttgart), Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven).
Forwards: Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Real Betis), Chemsdine Talbi (Sunderland), Soufiane Rahimi (Al Ain), Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiacos), Brahim Díaz (Real Madrid), Yassine Gessime (Strasbourg), Ayoube Amaimouni (Eintracht Frankfurt).
South Africa FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule
| Match No. | Date | Match | Venue | City | Stage | Time (Local) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thu, June 11 | Mexico vs South Africa | Estadio Azteca | Mexico City | Group Stage | 19:00 |
| 25 | Thu, June 18 | Czechia vs South Africa | Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz) | Atlanta | Group Stage | 12:00 |
| 54 | Wed, June 24 | South Africa vs Korea Republic | Estadio Monterrey (BBVA) | Monterrey | Group Stage | 20:00 |
South Africa FIFA World Cup 2026 Results
| Date | Match | Match Score | Venue | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 June 2026 | Mexico vs South Africa | South Africa lost 0-2 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City | Group Stage |
| 18 June 2026 | Czechia vs South Africa | Upcoming Fixture | Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz), Atlanta | Group Stage |
| 24 June 2026 | South Africa vs Korea Republic | Upcoming Fixture | Estadio Monterrey (BBVA), Monterrey | Group Stage |
South Africa FIFA World Cup 2026 Points table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico (H) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 2 | South Korea | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Czech Republic | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | South Africa | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
South Africa FIFA World Cup Best Performances
| Year | Host Country | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | France | Group Stage |
| 2002 | South Korea/Japan | Group Stage |
| 2010 | South Africa | Group Stage |
South Africa All-Time FIFA World Cup Stats
| Stat | Record |
|---|---|
| Total Matches Played | 9 |
| Wins | 2 |
| Draws | 4 |
| Losses | 3 |
| Goals Scored | 11 |
| Goals Conceded | 16 |
| Clean Sheets | 2 |
| Group Stage Eliminations | 3 |
South Africa Most FIFA World Cup Appearances
| Rank | Player | Matches | Tournaments | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aaron Mokoena | 9 | 3 | 1998-2010 |
| 2 | Siphiwe Tshabalala | 6 | 2 | 2006-2010 |
| 3 | Lucas Radebe | 6 | 2 | 1998-2002 |
| 4 | Benny McCarthy | 6 | 2 | 1998-2002 |
| 5 | Quinton Fortune | 6 | 2 | 1998-2002 |
| 6 | Steven Pienaar | 6 | 2 | 2002-2010 |
| 7 | Teko Modise | 3 | 1 | 2010 |
| 8 | Katlego Mphela | 3 | 1 | 2010 |
| 9 | Itumeleng Khune | 3 | 1 | 2010 |
| 10 | Matthew Booth | 5 | 2 | 1998-2002 |
South Africa Top Scorers in FIFA World Cup
| Rank | Player | Goals | Matches | World Cups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benny McCarthy | 2 | 6 | 1998-2002 |
| 2 | Siphiwe Tshabalala | 1 | 6 | 2006-2010 |
| 3 | Katlego Mphela | 1 | 3 | 2010 |
| 4 | Steven Pienaar | 1 | 6 | 2002-2010 |
| 5 | Bernard Parker | 1 | 3 | 2010 |
| 6 | Teko Modise | 1 | 3 | 2010 |
| 7 | Quinton Fortune | 1 | 6 | 1998-2002 |
| 8 | Shaun Bartlett | 1 | 6 | 1998-2002 |
| 9 | Percy Tau | 0 | 0 | Yet to Play |
| 10 | Lyle Foster | 0 | 0 | Yet to Play |
FAQs About South Africa FIFA World Cup Records
South Africa has appeared in three FIFA World Cup tournaments.
South Africa hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and became the first African nation to host the tournament.
Benny McCarthy is South Africa’s leading FIFA World Cup goalscorer.
Aaron Mokoena holds the record for the most FIFA World Cup appearances for South Africa.
South Africa’s best FIFA World Cup performance is reaching the group stage in all three appearances.