The South Africa legend has hit out at the exclusion of Brandon Petersen and Gift Links from the Bafana Bafana squad for the upcoming World Cup. The former Premier Soccer League coach believes that performance on the pitch should always outweigh personal preferences when selecting a national team for the global showpiece.
Fresh off a win over Senegal, the USMNT face their toughest pre-World Cup test yet against Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz and Germany. GOAL breaks down five key storylines.
The national team captain says the South African camp is buzzing with anticipation as they prepare to reclaim their place on the world stage. In a poetic twist of fate, Bafana are set for a high-stakes showdown against co-hosts Mexico in the 2026 FIFA World Cup opener. The fixture is a nostalgic throwback to the 2010 curtain-raiser, once again pitting the two nations against each other in one of football's most iconic television slots.
Surprise Moriri has thrown his full weight behind Broos’ squad selection for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Despite the inevitable public debate following the announcement of the final roster, the former Mamelodi Sundowns star believes the Belgian tactician has prioritised the right elements for success on the world stage.
The former national team captain has come out strongly in defence of the Burnley star. The 25-year-old forward has found himself under intense scrutiny from a frustrated South African fanbase after his costly penalty miss against Nicaragua, coupled with a dip in form since the Africa Cup of Nations. However, with the global stage fast approaching, legendary former skipper Khune has dismissed the growing criticism, calling for patience and backing the under-fire striker to rediscover his sharp edge when it matters most.
Here GOAL brings you all the details of the friendly match between Hugo Broos' Bafana Bafana and Rudolph Speid's Reggae Boyz. The last time these sides met was 16 years ago when they played a in South Africa's warm-up for the 2010 global tournament.
Mexico recovered from an early scare in Toluca to overwhelm Serbia, with Alvaro Fidalgo and Brian Gutierrez among the standouts as El Tri wrapped up their World Cup preparations in style.
With Mexico’s World Cup opener against South Africa looming, El Tri’s friendly vs Serbia gives Javier Aguirre one last chance to settle his XI, sharpen the attack and answer key questions around Alvaro Fidalgo, Alexis Vega, Roberto Alvarado, and Guillermo Ochoa.
Rayan Cherki scored a memorable goal, but a much-changed France side couldn't hold onto the lead as they dropped their first World Cup warmup game to the Ivory Coast, 2-1. Manager Didier Deschamps made plenty of changes, yet still named a strong side. Despite some bright moments, Les Bleus weren't able to piece together a complete performance - and were made to pay.
Brazil will have to face the friendly against Egypt - their final World Cup warm-up – without their talismanic figurehead, as Neymar has been officially ruled out of the upcoming trip to Cleveland. The Santos star is set to remain at the national team's training base to undergo intensive physiotherapy in a desperate race against time.
El Tricolor boss has admitted his side face a significant challenge in their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Bafana Bafana. The veteran tactician heaped praise on the technical growth of Hugo Broos’ side, describing their current identity as a unique hybrid on the international stage.
Netherlands suffered a disappointing defeat to Algeria in their World Cup warm-up, prompting a furious response from Ronald Koeman. The Oranje boss criticised his side's lack of aggression and discipline, while Donyell Malen came under scrutiny after missing several clear chances before the visitors struck a late winner.
Thomas Tuchel is preparing to hand Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott his international debut during England's final World Cup preparations. Despite not being named in the final 26-man tournament squad, the 22-year-old has been thrust into the spotlight for the upcoming friendlies against New Zealand and Costa Rica.
Nottingham Forest star Chris Wood endured a bittersweet evening in Fort Lauderdale as he officially became the most-capped player in New Zealand men's football history. However, the veteran striker's record-breaking night against Haiti was completely overshadowed by a shambolic performance from the All Whites.
South Africa have been handed a stinging reality check ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign by a true icon of African football. Rabah Madjer, legendary former The Dragons striker who represented Algeria at two World Cups, has voiced serious doubts over the country's ability to compete on the global stage.
South Africa legend Siphiwe Tshabalala has issued a rallying cry to the Burnley striker to use public criticism as fuel for the upcoming global tournament. The 25-year-old has found himself at the centre of a fan backlash following recent performances for the national team.
Romelu Lukaku reached yet another historic milestone as Belgium secured a convincing 2-0 victory over Croatia in their preparations for the 2026 World Cup. The Napoli striker came off the bench to silence any doubts over his match fitness, netting a landmark 90th goal for his country to seal the result in Rijeka.
The South African national team and the country's football governing body have barely had a chance to catch their breath amid growing backlash from Mzansi football faithful. From the manner in which the travelling squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was trimmed, to a visa debacle that delayed the team's departure to Mexico, and now a blunder during Friday evening's international friendly against Nicaragua at Orlando Amstel Arena, controversy continues to cloud preparations. What should be a period of excitement and anticipation ahead of the global showpiece has instead been overshadowed by a succession of off-field own goals, with incompetence once again taking centre stage.
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