SAFA have announced the venues that will host Bafana Bafana’s international friendly matches against Panama as the two teams ready themselves for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Hugo Broos’ men are set to kickoff preparations for the tournament to be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. They first face Panama on March 27 before they clash against the same side four days later. Both games will be staged in South Africa.
Bafana are preparing for a return to the World Cup where they last featured in 2010 as hosts. It will be the fourth time for South Africa to grace the quadrennial global competition.
They are drawn in Group A alongside co-hosts Mexico, South Korea and the winner of the UEFA play-offs involving Denmark, the Czech Republic and Macedonia.
SAFA opted to play Panama who are a CONCACAF member just like Mexico. Since they are playing the same opponents twice in the March FIFA window, Bafana would be expected to engage a team that plays similarly to their group rivals just before the tournament starts.
Their World Cup group opponents will also be taking part in friendly matches in March, but against different teams.
WHERE WILL BAFANA HOST PANAMA?
“Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium and DHL Cape Town Stadium will host Bafana Bafana’s two international friendly matches against Panama next month,” SAFA confirmed.
“The South African senior men’s national team host the first match at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday 27 March, before facing the Central American country in the second game in Cape Town on Tuesday, 31 March 2026.
“The matches form a critical component of head coach Hugo Broos’ build-up programme ahead of the global tournament, which will be hosted by the United States of America, Canada and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July 2026.”
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