Four nations made debuts at the 2026 World Cup, with Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan gracing the grandest stage in international football for the first time. It was the tournament with the most newcomers since 2006 and Cape Verde achieved the feat of ending a 16-year wait for a debutant to reach the knockout stages, before succumbing to Lionel Messi's Argentina in a classic.
Former Amakhosi coach Cavin Johnson has delivered a scathing assessment of South Africa’s opening performance at the ongoing global showpiece. Following a 2-0 defeat to the co-hosts team, the veteran tactician believes a combination of poor mental preparation and a confusing tactical setup doomed Hugo Broos’ side from the first whistle.
The veteran coach has delivered a scathing assessment of the national team's readiness for the World Cup, admitting he is deeply concerned about their prospects. The former Premier Soccer League tactician believes the side's build-up to the global showpiece has been marred by poor administrative decisions and a fear of facing top-tier opposition.
The Belgian mentor held nothing back after his side’s lacklustre draw against Jamaica, with the 74-year-old tactician admitting the performance fell well short of the standards he expected. The stalemate exposed several areas in need of urgent attention, as his troops continue preparing for a blockbuster World Cup opener against tournament co-hosts Mexico.
Hugo Broos' team took on Rudolph Speid's Reggae Boyz at the Estadio Hidalgo in Pachuca, Mexico on Saturday night. With fans and media barred from attending, little is known about the match with even the scoreline being a subject for debate.
The former Kaizer Chiefs defender has thrown his weight behind the current national team, insisting they have the quality to break their historic World Cup hoodoo. Speaking ahead of the 2026 tournament in North America, the retired center-back believes Hugo Broos' side is equipped to reach the knockout rounds for the first time in South African history.
Attacking midfielder Andre De Jong has lauded the immense influence of the 24-year-old Bucs star following the club's historic treble-winning campaign. The Bafana Bafana international emerged as the talisman for the Sea Robbers, proving to be the difference-maker in a season that saw the Soweto giants dominate the domestic landscape.
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.
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.
South Africa head coach is refusing to let off-field chaos derail Bafana Bafana's World Cup ambitions. Despite a series of administrative hurdles that overshadowed their departure, the Belgian tactician is adamant that his squad is ready for the monumental task awaiting them in North America.
Mexico is facing a major security crisis just days before the opening ceremony as protesters in Mexico City have vowed to derail the tournament's first match. Tensions reached a breaking point on Monday when riot police clashed with demonstrators, leading to the use of teargas and reports of injuries.
A former Orlando Pirates star has voiced growing alarm over the physical condition of the CAF Champions League-winning star, as South Africa gears up for their historic global showpiece. The Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder has been pushed to the limit across a demanding blend of domestic and international commitments, with a gruelling schedule sparking growing fears of burnout even before the tournament kicks off.
The Mzansi outfit head coach has officially confirmed one final warm-up fixture for South Africa before they begin their highly anticipated World Cup campaign. The national team will test themselves against Jamaica as they look to fine-tune their tactics and find a clinical edge following a frustrating recent outing.
In the latest episode of the Beast Mode On Podcast, Wes Morgan, captain of Leicester City's historic title-winning side, shares the real story behind one of the greatest underdog achievements in football history. The conversation dives deep into the mindset behind the Foxes' impossible Premier League title win, a 5000-1 miracle that shocked the world. The ex-Nottingham Forest defender also discusses his battles with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, his pride at representing Jamaica and more.
Former Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe sparked wild celebrations in Kinshasa by scoring a dramatic 100th-minute winner to send DR Congo to the 2026 World Cup. The historic 1-0 victory over Jamaica in the intercontinental play-off final ends a 52-year absence from the global stage for the Central African nation.
Mason Greenwood may yet bring his hopes of earning an England recall to a close by pledging allegiance to Jamaica at the 2026 World Cup, admits a man that once trod a similar path. Frank Sinclair joined the Reggae Boyz ranks for a major tournament adventure in 1998 and has told GOAL why a forward starring at Marseille could take a similar decision.
"Football is a whole skill to itself. A whole world. A whole universe to itself. Me love it because you have to be skilful to play it. Freedom! Football is freedom."
Michail Antonio is reportedly training with Championship side Leicester as he seeks to make a sensational return to professional football. The 35-year-old forward has been without a club since being released by West Ham in the summer of 2025. No fresh terms were offered there on the back of Antonio suffering a near-fatal car crash in December 2024. He is not ready to hang up his boots just yet.