Bafana Bafana will begin their 2026 FIFA World Cup journey with a crucial opening game against Mexico, a rematch of the 2010 opener at FNB Stadium. During the draw held at the John F Kennedy Centre in Washington, D.C, on Friday, coach Hugo Broos’ charges were drawn in Group A alongside co-hosts Mexico and the Republic of Korea.
The remaining spot will be decided during the March 2026 playoffs. One of the following European nations: Denmark, North Macedonia, Ireland, or the Czech Republic will vie for that place. Denmark will face North Macedonia, while the Czech Republic will battle Ireland in Euro Playoff D. The winners of the two semi-finals will then compete for a spot in Group A of the 2026 World Cup.
The opening match in Mexico City will be played on 11 June 2026. South Africa makes its fourth appearance in the global soccer showpiece, having qualified three times and earned the other spot as hosts.
The 2026 edition is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19. This monumental tournament, the first to feature 48 teams, will be jointly hosted by three North American nations: Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Meanwhile, Bafana’s fellow group opponents, the Koreans, celebrate a notable achievement by making the most World Cup appearances of any Asian country. They have qualified for an impressive 11 tournaments, with the last 10 happening consecutively. Interestingly, Bafana have only faced the Asian side once in history, drawing 0-0 in a friendly international in April 2010, leading up to the World Cup.
FINAL GROUP STAGE DRAW
Group A: Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, UEFA Play-off D (potentially Republic of Ireland)
Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, UEFA Play-off A (potentially Wales or Northern Ireland)
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
Group D: USA, Australia, Paraguay, UEFA Play-off C
Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Cote D’Ivoire, Curacao
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, UEFA Play-off B
Group G: Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde
Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, FIFA Play-off 2
Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan
Group L: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana
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