The World Cup 2026 draw has been made, with England set to face Croatia in the group stages, and the USMNT to take on Australia. Brazil have been drawn with Morocco, while France will play Senegal and Argentina must face Austria.
The South African national team is just a few days away from departing for Morocco, where they will continue their preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations, kicking off on December 21. For a certain PSL right-back, who has earned a place in Hugo Broos’ 25-man squad, a new chapter begins. He will be aiming to see his career reach new heights while gaining valuable experience on the continental stage.
The multiple Premier Soccer League winner was snubbed when the Belgian announced the squad he will be taking to the continental finals in Morocco. Although many were surprised that the experienced star was not called up, some have argued that Broos made the right decision in overlooking him.
The World Cup fever pitch has already started as FIFA is set to conduct the draw for the 2026 finals, set to be co-hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada. After a gruelling World Cup campaign, Bafana will now be eager to know who their preliminary opponents will be in next year's global showpiece. This will be South Africa's first involvement in the finals for over a decade since they hosted the event in 2010.
South Africa's World Cup group opponents will be officially revealed on Friday evening, with the draw set to take place at the John F. Kennedy Centre in Washington, DC, United States. The Mzansi side has been placed in Pot 3, alongside Norway, Egypt, Tunisia, Panama, Ivory Coast, Paraguay, Qatar, Scotland, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Algeria.
The much-anticipated global football tournament will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
The 20-year-old centre-back is on his way to North America despite widespread expectations that he would secure a move to Europe. His move has raised questions about how it could influence his international prospects as Bafana Bafana prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Looking at the bigger picture, he will be hoping the move does not jeopardise his chances of making Hugo Broos’ final squad for the global football competition.
The two Sea Robbers were teammates at defunct SuperSport United before they took different paths. Now at Bucs, they are teammates again and have both become crucial players for the Soweto giants in their debut seasons. They are also teammates on the national team and, in a few weeks' time, will be heading to the AFCON finals.
The Buccaneers coach has applauded his players for dominating the South Africa final squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations tournament. The Soweto giants have provided nine players to Hugo Broos' 25-member selection that will head to the continental competition. This sees The Ghost taking over from the Brazilians who used to dominate the national side at the last edition.
The Bafana defender has signed with the Major League Soccer side, and the confirmation of his move came just days before a second cup final for Pirates this season. The 20-year-old centre-back was a pivotal player in Bucs' campaign, and appearing in the final should be a befitting goodbye for his efforts. As the Sea Robbers hunt for another trophy, only Gallants stand between them and the cup glory.
A huge chunk of players that will represent Mzansi in the continental showpiece come from the Soweto giants. But before the players leave for AFCON, they have a crucial duty for the club. A date with destiny awaits them as they will face Marumo Gallants in the Carling Knockout Cup final.
Despite taking the lead, Chiefs allowed their opponents to fight back in a game held at Thorpe Arch Training Ground. After the game, Amakhosi now shifts their focus to the next encounter against a Championship outfit. The London-based club is home to South Africa's African champion and has already earned a call-up from Hugo Broos.
After days of intense speculation, the defender's move has now been announced by his new side. The Mzansi star, who has been an impressive figure for both the Premier Soccer League giants and the national team, becomes the second youngest gem to leave the Soweto giants after Mohau Nkota. The Major League Soccer side has also revealed the contract details of the defender.
Arne Slot has revealed the date on which Mohamed Salah will join the Egypt squad for AFCON, while admitting that the Liverpool star was "not happy" with his benching at West Ham over the weekend. The Dutchman said that the club, Salah and the Egyptian FA jointly agreed on the final date, following a swirl of rumours that the forward might depart earlier than expected after Egypt arranged a friendly against Nigeria on December 14.
Broos has selected a group of predominantly core, key regulars, but there are some surprises as South Africa looks to go one better than their semi-final berth at the 2023 AFCON. There are no Kaizer Chiefs players in the 25-man group, while a few youngsters have cracked the nod.
The retired Sea Robber has stated he keeps tabs on the club's development and is happy with how the Soweto giants are doing. The Bucs legend has also said he is thankful to the club for how it has helped him live a decent life, and were it not for them, his life would have been worse. Among the players he fondly follows is Mofokeng, a promising forward within the club's ranks.
When Broos named his final squad for the AFCON finals, there was not much surprise because he maintained the core players who have always dominated his teams. Amakhosi stars were once again snubbed, although Mduduzi Shabalala was named among the reserve players. In recent times, Orlando Pirates have been contributing a huge chunk of players to the national side, a privilege enjoyed by Mamelodi Sundowns before.
After a long wait, the Belgian has now named the players he will take to Morocco in the hunt for yet another continental trophy for South Africa. As usual, his selection has divided opinion as fans and pundits debate who should be in the squad and who should not be. The former Cameroon head coach has now explained why he selected two skillful attackers.
The Sea Robbers were once again lethal as they managed a Premier Soccer League win over Durban City on Saturday at Moses Mabhida Stadium. Meanwhile, there was a palpable sigh of relief for Pirates fans who saw Mbekezile Mbokazi back into the starting line-up again. For a week now, the centre-back has been a subject of intense debate, as reports had indicated he was closer to the exit door, reportedly on his way to Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach was full of praise for the current state of South Africa’s displays on the bigger stages. Bafana Bafana recently reaped the rewards of their hard work by qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and will next month take the stage at the Africa Cup of Nations. Meanwhile, Amajimbos bowed out of the FIFA U-17 World Cup earlier this month, and the senior women’s national team is busy preparing for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations [WAFCON].
There was an element of surprise again when the Moroccan tactician opted to bench the Bafana forward who has been a key player for his team. The 24-year-old came on in the second half and played a crucial role in Bucs' 2-0 victory against struggling Chippa United. Ouaddou was put to task to explain why the new signing did not start, and he defended his selection, saying every player on his team needs to be given playing and rest time.
The 1996 AFCON winner is one of the coaches highly tipped to become the next head coach post-Hugo Broos era. The Belgian has stated more than once that the Bafana Bafana coaching role will be his last, as he intends to retire after the 2026 World Cup finals. The tactician has decided to undergo the requisite training that will prepare him for a higher coaching position.
The Bafana Bafana star has been tipped to leave the Premier Soccer League for a new challenge in Major League Soccer. The timing of his reported move has been questioned, with some saying it is too early, while others say he is ripe for a new environment. Mbokazi has experienced a sensational rise within the Bucs setup, and this propelled him to the national stage, where he has been impressive as well.
The Amakhosi star is among the four players from the club who have been included in the provisional Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals squad. What now remains is to see how many will be included in the final team that will head to Morocco for the continental tournament. Broos has always snubbed players from Naturena, and he previously defended his position, citing the club's poor performance.
The forward struggled while in Germany but has found his footing since he made the unexpected move after several stints abroad. He is not only a regular starter under Miguel Cardoso but also plays a critical role as a creative brain in the club's attacking adventures. Now, he has been tipped as the next big thing for Bafana Bafana, given the progress he has made.
Despite being snubbed by the national team head coach, the former Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns player continues to prove his worth for the Moroccan giants. The Mzansi star played a crucial role as Wydad Casablanca managed a 3-0 win over Kenya's Nairobi United on Sunday at Laribi Zaouli Stadium. The win propelled the Moroccan heavyweights to the top of the table, while Nairobi United, who made it to the group stage in their debut season, are at the bottom.
As South Africans slowly come to terms with the expected exit of Broos next year, several native tacticians have been touted as his best successors. The Belgian tactician has had a rather successful stint with Bafana, and that means anyone who will come in after him will be expected to be as good or even far better. Broos has a chance of making his time with Bafana even a more successful story – that is, if he does well in the AFCON and the World Cup finals.
Egypt
