Bafana Bafana attacker Relebohile Mofokeng is one of 19 South African-based players in Hugo Broos' Fifa World Cup squad.
When Bafana Bafana walk out at the Azteca Stadium on June 11 to face Mexico in the opening match of the 2026 Fifa World Cup, it will mark a triumphant return to the global stage after a 16-year absence.
Yet, beneath the tactical shapes and game plans that will be drawn up by Hugo Broos lies a fascinating structural shift in the composition of the squad itself. The 26-man group that has headed to North America represents a radical departure from the European-heavy squads of South Africa’s footballing heyday, signalling a massive reliance on the domestic Betway Premiership to prop up the national team.
To understand the magnitude of this evolution, one must trace the geopolitical and sporting landscape of Bafana's previous World Cup appearances.
In 1998, fresh off their 1996 Africa Cup of Nations triumph, South Africa’s maiden World Cup squad was a glittering constellation of European-based stars. Philippe Troussier’s side, which was first moulded by the legendary Clive Barker, featured 15 overseas-based players out of a squad of 22.
