Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos, captain Ronwen Williams, and Safa president Danny Jordaan address the media during a celebratory press conference following the team's historic World Cup run. Photo: Backpagepix
For years, South Africa’s relationship with the FIFA World Cup was defined by what could have been.
There were moments of promise, flashes of quality and talented squads that carried the hopes of a nation, but the knockout stages always remained just out of reach.
Until now.
The 2026 Bafana Bafana generation has achieved what previous teams could not — taking South Africa beyond the World Cup group stages for the first time in history. It was a breakthrough that carried the weight of decades of disappointment.
