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Where is the Bafana noise ahead of World Cup

By Kgomotso Mokoena
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PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - JANUARY 30: President Cyril Ramaphosa Helman Mkhalele and Bafana Bafana Captain Ronwen Williams at the FIFA World Cup Original Trophy Tour at the Union Buildings on January 30, 2026 in Pretoria, South Africa. The trophy’s arrival marks the symbolic beginning of South Africa’s return to the FIFA World Cup, a moment in which the future of South African football is placed, both physically and emotionally, into the hands of its people. (Photo by Gallo Images/Frennie Shivambu)

We are hoping there will be song and dance at the Union Building in Pretoria on Wednesday when the South African Football Association (Safa) and coach Hugo Broos announce the final Bafana Bafana squad that will represent South Africa at the much-awaited 2026 Fifa World Cup, to be held in the USA, Mexico and Canada next month. 

Bafana, the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) champions, last qualified for a Fifa World up 22 years ago for the 2002 tournament that was played in Korea/Japan and so, the current batch of  Bafana players deserve the pomp and ceremony for breaking the mould and bringing back Mzansi’s reputation as one of the best diski nations on the continent.

In the last two Afcons, where South Africa  finished in an impressive third in Cameroon in 2023 and the last year’s spectacle in Morocco, the Bafana team was not given a send-off and they arrived at those Afcons subdued and without any fanfare. When other countries announced their arrival in style,   dazzling in their traditional regalia and cultural symbols, Bafana made a low-key entrance in their tracksuits and playing gear.

We hope kit sponsor Adidas has a plan, just like they do with the stylish outfits donned by Orlando Pirates stars during PSL matches.

When the Springboks left for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, the whole country was at a standstill. They were given a glitzy farewell at the MultiChoice headquarters, and the whole of Johannesburg was littered with green and gold as the players were paraded.

Bokke Friday had gained momentum, and retail workers, waitresses, schoolkids, office workers and even parking guards heeded the call to wear the South African colours on Fridays and on match days.

During the 2010 World Cup, “Phillip” was here, and Football Friday was a major uniting and galvanising force, but it is now as dead as the dodo. 

In fact, it looks like all the razzmatazz will be in Mexico. The South Afric­ans will make their pres­ence felt when they estab­lish and launch the Ekhaya Centre in New Mex­ico, where Bafana Bafana will be based. Bafana Bafana will play in the open­ing match of the tour­na­ment against Mex­ico at the Azteca Sta­dium in Mex­ico City.

Ekhaya will be a place to watch foot­ball, to see South African art, to hear South African music and to eat South African food. It will be a media centre for the journ­al­ists cov­er­ing Bafana’s cam­paign, a fan park and a fan engage­ment space.

“The Ekhaya Centre will be our home. Wherever South Afric­ans gather in the world, we need a place we can call ekhaya,” said sports minister Gayton Mck­en­zie.

“It will be our home from 7-12 June. The Depart­ment of Sports, Arts and Cul­ture, together with Brand South Africa and SA Tour­ism – will host the Ekhaya Centre at the Centro Nacional de las Artes in Mex­ico City.

The crowds at Orlando Stadium have become enthusiastic and passionate, and we hope that they will again, as seen throughout the season when the Buccaneers were playing, come to the party when Broos’ boys will host Bafana’s World Cup send-off match against
Central American country Nicaragua on Friday.

“We encourage families and fans to come in their numbers. The players will appreciate the support before heading to the Fifa World Cup from 11 June to 19 July 2026,” Safa president Danny Jordaan said.

Visit SW YouTube Channel for our video content

  • The South African Football Association (Safa) will unveil the final Bafana Bafana squad on Wednesday.
  • The announcement will take place at the Union Building in Pretoria.
  • Coach Hugo Broos will be present for the squad reveal.
  • The squad will represent South Africa at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
  • The tournament is scheduled to be held next month in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
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We are hoping there will be song and dance at the Union Building in Pretoria on Wednesday when the South African Football Association (Safa) and coach Hugo Broos announce the final Bafana Bafana squad that will represent South Africa at the much-awaited 2026 Fifa World Cup, to be held in the USA, Mexico and Canada next month. 

Bafana, the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) champions, last qualified for a Fifa World up 22 years ago for the 2002 tournament that was played in Korea/Japan and so, the current batch of  Bafana players deserve the pomp and ceremony for breaking the mould and bringing back Mzansi’s reputation as one of the best diski nations on the continent.

In the last two Afcons, where South Africa  finished in an impressive third in Cameroon in 2023 and the last year’s spectacle in Morocco, the Bafana team was not given a send-off and they arrived at those Afcons subdued and without any fanfare. When other countries announced their arrival in style,   dazzling in their traditional regalia and cultural symbols, Bafana made a low-key entrance in their tracksuits and playing gear.

We hope kit sponsor Adidas has a plan, just like they do with the stylish outfits donned by Orlando Pirates stars during PSL matches.

When the Springboks left for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, the whole country was at a standstill. They were given a glitzy farewell at the MultiChoice headquarters, and the whole of Johannesburg was littered with green and gold as the players were paraded.

Bokke Friday had gained momentum, and retail workers, waitresses, schoolkids, office workers and even parking guards heeded the call to wear the South African colours on Fridays and on match days.

During the 2010 World Cup, “Phillip” was here, and Football Friday was a major uniting and galvanising force, but it is now as dead as the dodo. 

In fact, it looks like all the razzmatazz will be in Mexico. The South Afric­ans will make their pres­ence felt when they estab­lish and launch the Ekhaya Centre in New Mex­ico, where Bafana Bafana will be based. Bafana Bafana will play in the open­ing match of the tour­na­ment against Mex­ico at the Azteca Sta­dium in Mex­ico City.

Ekhaya will be a place to watch foot­ball, to see South African art, to hear South African music and to eat South African food. It will be a media centre for the journ­al­ists cov­er­ing Bafana’s cam­paign, a fan park and a fan engage­ment space.

“The Ekhaya Centre will be our home. Wherever South Afric­ans gather in the world, we need a place we can call ekhaya,” said sports minister Gayton Mck­en­zie.

“It will be our home from 7-12 June. The Depart­ment of Sports, Arts and Cul­ture, together with Brand South Africa and SA Tour­ism – will host the Ekhaya Centre at the Centro Nacional de las Artes in Mex­ico City.

The crowds at Orlando Stadium have become enthusiastic and passionate, and we hope that they will again, as seen throughout the season when the Buccaneers were playing, come to the party when Broos’ boys will host Bafana’s World Cup send-off match against
Central American country Nicaragua on Friday.

“We encourage families and fans to come in their numbers. The players will appreciate the support before heading to the Fifa World Cup from 11 June to 19 July 2026,” Safa president Danny Jordaan said.

Visit SW YouTube Channel for our video content

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