Former Mamelodi Sundowns defender Matthew Booth has questioned the logic behind SAFA arranging back-to-back international friendlies against the same opponent as Bafana Bafana lay the groundwork for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Hugo Broos’ side is preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and will face CONCACAF side Panama, between March 27 and 31, with both matches to be staged in South Africa at venues yet to be announced. Bafana will be in Group A at the World Cup, facing co-hosts Mexico, South Korea and the winner from a UEFA playoff.
Some World Cup-bound teams have organised March friendlies against two different opponents to subject their squads to varying tests. However, Bafana have opted to play the same team twice within four days—a decision that has left Booth puzzled.
South Africa’s World Cup opponents, Mexico, have signalled serious intent by lining up three friendlies in March. They will host Iceland, Portugal, and Belgium, with all matches taking place within a six-day window.
Meanwhile, South Korea will play just one friendly during the upcoming FIFA international period, taking on Austria.
‘PLAYING ONE TEAM ‘DOESN’T MAKE SENSE,’ BUT PANAMA AS AN OPPONENT ‘MAKE SENSE’
“It’s a bit strange, I don’t recall playing the same team twice in quick succession. It rarely happens, I’m not sure what the thinking there is,” Booth told FARPost. “It could be a schedule issue, it could be the fact that a lot of teams would have been booked already. So, perhaps SAFA came late to the party to try and organise friendlies, which won’t be the first time, if that was the case.
“But I think it makes sense, Panama are sort of Mexico, similar facilities. I would have thought that another game would have been against a European team and perhaps another one against an Asian team that plays similar football to South Korea,” the ex-Bafana Bafana centre-back went on.
“That would make sense, I think that would be the ideal scenario. But it’s difficult to get it right. Teams are booked way in advance and should be booked way in advance. So yeah, a bit odd, it doesn’t quite make sense.”
PANAMA: A HIGH-RANKED TEST FOR BROOS’ MEN
However, Bafana’s opponents, Panama, are also going to the World Cup in what would be their second appearance at the global football tournament. They made their debut appearance in the 2018 edition in Russia.
They are ranked higher than Bafana globally by FIFA at position 33, while the 1996 African champions are 60th.
Since Broos took over as Bafana coach, the most high-profile friendly was against France in Paris in May 2023. The 5-0 drubbing South Africa suffered left Broos sceptical about playing against global heavyweights, fearing for morale-sapping results.
Meanwhile, the expanded 48-team World Cup will be hosted across North America from June 11 to July 19. In a move that mirrors the 2010 tournament, Mexico and South Africa will meet again in the opening match on June 11. This encounter is a direct throwback to their iconic curtain-raiser 16 years ago.
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