South Africa

South Africa, with its capital in Pretoria and a population of 62 million, is known for Table Mountain, wildlife safaris, and Nelson Mandela's legacy. South Africa is the only country in the world with three capital cities — Pretoria, Cape Town, and Bloemfontein.

In football, the Bafana Bafana are a 3-time World Cup participant with their best result being Group stage (1998, 2002, 2010). Their World Cup journey began in 1998, and they enter the 2026 tournament with Percy Tau as their talisman under head coach Hugo Broos. South Africa became the first African nation to host a World Cup in 2010, where the vuvuzela became a global phenomenon.

SeatNav's Power Index rates South Africa at 2.8 out of 10, ranking them #39 overall and classifying them as a determined underdog. In Group A, they face Mexico, South Korea, Czech Republic in what has been categorized as a manageable group (difficulty 3/10).

The current Bafana Bafana squad features 31 players, with the final 26-man World Cup roster to be announced in May 2026. South Africa have 3 confirmed group stage matches scheduled across the tournament.

South Africa supporters traveling to the 2026 World Cup can look forward to matches across multiple host cities in Mexico and the United States. Follow SeatNav for ticket availability, venue guides, and match day information as the tournament approaches.