After a 16-year absence, Bafana Bafana is back on the World Cup stage, ready to kick off their 2026 campaign. The South African national team will face co-hosts Mexico in the tournament's opening match, scheduled for Thursday, 11 June at 21:00 (SA time) at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. This match carries historical weight, as these two nations also played the opening fixture of the 2010 World Cup, famously hosted in South Africa as the first showpiece of its kind on African soil.

Mexico, ranked 15th globally by FIFA and enjoying home advantage as a co-host, will be eager to secure a strong start. They face a Bafana Bafana side ranked 60th in the world, setting the stage for an intriguing battle.

The 26-man squad selected by coach Hugo Broos features a strong domestic contingent, with nineteen players hailing from the Betway Premiership. The only British-based player is former Orlando Pirates star Lyle Foster, who recently experienced relegation with Burnley from the Premier League. Defender Olwethu Makhanya, a 22-year-old uncapped talent, plays for Philadelphia Union in the United States MLS, adding an international dimension to the team.

Domestically, the squad draws heavily from two of South Africa's most prominent clubs. The newly crowned champions, Orlando Pirates, contribute eight players, while Mamelodi Sundowns, champions in eight of the last nine PSL campaigns, also have eight representatives, underscoring the influence of these powerhouses on the national team.

Bafana Bafana's Group A fixtures for the 2026 World Cup are set. Following their opener against Mexico, they will challenge the Czech Republic in Atlanta on 18 June, and conclude their group stage matches against South Korea in Monterrey on 25 June.

Mexico, under the guidance of 67-year-old coach Javier Aguirre, boasts significant experience. Aguirre's coaching resume includes leading the national teams of Japan and Egypt, as well as several club sides in Mexico and Spain, such as Atletico Madrid, Espanyol, Mallorca, Real Zaragoza, Leganes, and Monterrey. He previously managed Mexico in both the 2002 and 2010 World Cup campaigns.

Key to Mexico's attack will be Raul Jimenez, the 34-year-old Fulham striker, who holds the distinction of being Mexico's most capped active player with 125 international appearances. While not expected to start regularly, 17-year-old Club Tijuana star Gilberto Mora is highlighted as a prodigiously gifted playmaker and a future talent to watch in 2026.

The detailed 26-man Bafana Bafana World Cup squad is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns), Ricardo Goss (Siwelele), Sipho Chaine (Orlando Pirates).

Defenders: Khuliso Mudau (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thabang Matuludi (Polokwane City), Khulumani Ndamane (Mamelodi Sundowns), Nkosinathi Sibisi (Orlando Pirates), Ime Okon (Hannover 96), Aubrey Modiba (Mamelodi Sundowns), Samukelo Kabini (Molde), Bradley Cross (Kaizer Chiefs), Olwethu Makhanya (Philadelphia Union), Kamogelo Sebelebele (Orlando Pirates), Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Chicago Fire).

Midfielders: Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns), Sphephelo Sithole (Tondela), Thalente Mbatha (Orlando Pirates), Jayden Adams (Mamelodi Sundowns).

South Africa’s 2026 FIFA World Cup fixtures:

• Thursday, 11 June: Mexico vs South Africa – 21:00 (SA time)
• Thursday, 18 June: The Czech Republic vs South Africa – 18:00 (SA time)
• Thursday, 25 June: South Africa vs South Korea – 03:00 (SA time)