Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has cast doubt on South Africa’s chances of finishing in the top two of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A.
The 1996 African champions were drawn in the same pool as co-hosts Mexico, South Korea and the winner of a European play-off. The victor from the UEFA play-off D involving Denmark, North Macedonia, the Czech Republic and the Republic of Ireland will join Group A.
Mexico and South Africa meet in the tournament opener at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on June 11. That would be followed by a clash with the UEFA opponents before concluding their group campaign against the Koreans on June 25.
Having failed to get past the group stage in the three previous appearances they have made at the World Cup, Bafana will be chasing history by reaching the knockouts for the first time.
Broos will be coaching at the World Cup for the first time after gracing the global tournament as a player with Belgium in 1986. However, the 2017 AFCON-winning coach admits they are in a difficult group and eyes a third-place finish as their ticket to the knockouts.
BROOS ON BAFANA’S WORLD CUP GROUP, WISHES DENMARK COMPLETES POOL
“It’s [the draw] not an easy one. First of all, you have to play the first game of the tournament against Mexico in Azteca Stadium, home game for Mexico, so it will be very tough for us that game,” said Broos as he reacted to the draw.
“Secondly, we have South Korea. So from that point, I was happy with Mexico and South Korea, and I hope the last one, it should be something else than what we have now. So now we will probably also have Denmark in our group.
“So we have with Mexico and Denmark, two very big teams. So it will be difficult for us to be in second or first. But on the other side now, with the new World Cup, the first eight of third places can go through.
“So we have to focus on that, and maybe we can be one of the best first and third places.”
‘WE WILL GO FOR IT’: BROOS
With his squad dominated by Betway Premiership players since he took over the Bafana job in May 2021, Broos believes the World Cup will be a learning experience.
“I think it will be difficult at the World Cup, so we don’t have to forget that. It should have been better if the last draw of our group had been another team. Now we have Denmark, probably,” the former Cameroon coach continued.
“We have Mexico first game, I can’t say we will win. This will be very difficult, so maybe the first game you lose, and then it’s already a game that you have to win.
“So it’s not so easy, but at the other side, I think it will be a very good experience for our team. It’s something we need to play against those teams.
“We will learn a lot, certainly, and we will see in football everything is possible. We will go for it. We will, like we did the last two, three years, we will fight for it, and we will see where we at.”
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