Hugo Broos Reveals Preliminary World Cup Roster

Hugo Broos has revealed his preliminary South Africa FIFA World Cup roster with half a dozen new strikers included. Now, South Africa boasts a plethora of aces and surefire starters on top of newcomers who can potentially showcase the team’s ambitions to light up the 2026 World Cup.

The Belgian tactician has announced his favoured 32 players, which will be trimmed to 26 next week to tackle the lucrative soccer showpiece in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Broos Looking to Boost Attacking Line

Bafana Bafana, toppled in the last 16 at AFCON 2025, are clearly going for firepower at these World Cup finals. Yet there is bound to be criticism from South Africa supporters directed at Broos for omitting fan favourite hotshot Thembinkosi Lorch and whizzy winger Mohau Nkota.

Broos may have shaken things up with his forwards, although he has named a plethora of familiar faces in his South Africa 32-player squad. These include Mamelodi Sundowns’ goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, Portugal-based midfielder Siphephelo Sithole and Orlando Pirates striker Evidence Makgopa.

Broos has been highly praised for South Africa’s resurgence in recent years, thanks to his tactical nous and introduction of emerging stars. He is sticking his neck out with his squad changes from AFCON 2025, and aims to continue the good work that saw Bafana Bafana top their CAF World Cup qualifying group ahead of highly fancied Nigeria.

Yet Broos will need to up the ante following such a disappointing AFCON 2025 campaign and World Cup warm-up games. South Africa failed to impress in March’s back-to-back matches against Panama, stuttering to a 1-1 stalemate in Durban and suffering a 2-1 defeat in Cape Town.

South Africa Preliminary 2026 World Cup Squad

Pirates and Sundowns each have nine players represented, although the final squad will be announced at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Pretoria on 27 May.

South Africa will kick off with 24 players for their Johannesburg training camp on 25 May. This is because Bafana Bafana’s overseas contingent will finish their season at the weekend and Sundowns tackle Morocco side AS Far in the CAF Champions League final second leg at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on 24 May.

Goalkeepers

• Sipho Chaine (Orlando Pirates),

• Ricardo Goss (Siwelele FC),

• Brandon Peterson (Kaizer Chiefs),

• Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns).

Defenders

• Bradley Cross (Kaizer Chiefs),

• Samukelo Kabini (Molde FK, Norway),

• Olwethu Makhanya (Philadelphia Union, USA),

• Thabang Matuludi (Polokwane City),

• Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Chicago Fire, USA),

• Aubrey Modiba (Mamelodi Sundowns),

• Thabiso Monyane (Kaizer Chiefs),

• Khuliso Mudau (Mamelodi Sundowns),

• Khulumani Ndamane (Mamelodi Sundowns),

• Nkosinathi Sibisi (Orlando Pirates).

Midfielders

• Jayden Adams (Mamelodi Sundowns),

• Lebohang Maboe (Kaizer Chiefs),

• Thalente Mbatha (Orlando Pirates),

• Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns),

• Brooklyn Poggenpoel (Durban City),

• Sphephelo Sithole (CD Tondela, Portugal).

Attackers

• Oswin Appollis (Orlando Pirates),

• Lyle Foster (Burnley, England),

• Evidence Makgopa (Orlando Pirates),

• Thapelo Maskeo (AEL Limassol, Cyprus),

• Patrick Maswanganyi (Orlando Pirates),

• Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates),

• Thapeli Morena (Mamelodi Sundowns),

• Tshepang Moremi (Orlando Pirates),

• Iqraam Rayners (Mamelodi Sundowns),

• Kamogelo Sebelebele (Orlando Pirates),

• Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns).

What's Next for Bafana Bafana?

Bafana Bafana finalise their World Cup preparations by hosting Nicaragua at Johannesburg’s Orlando Stadium on 29 May 2026 (6 pm ko). The 26-strong squad will jet off two days later, for South Africa’s first World Cup finals since they were hosts in 2010.

South Africa’s initial goal is to reach the knockout stages for the very first time, having exited in the group stage in all three World Cup appearances.

Group A Chances

Although Bafana Bafana are the lowest FIFA-ranked side in Group A, they have a shot of navigating their way into the last 32 because up to three nations can progress from the four-team groups. Eight third-placed nations will join the top two sides from the 12 groups for the knockout phase. South Africa face a tough task in Group A:

1. They take on co-hosts Mexico in the 2026 World Cup curtain raiser inside Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca on 11 June. The intimidating stadium witnessed both Maradona and Pele win the FIFA World Cup.

2. Broos’ troops have a week to prepare to fire on all cylinders for the 18 June clash against Czechia in Atlanta, Georgia.

3. Bafana Bafana return to Mexico to face South Korea in Guadalupe on 25 June, where victory could be a do-or-die scenario.

There will be high expectations among Bafana Bafana fans for their side to progress to the knockout stages, while Broos appears confident about two Group A games in Mexico. He represented Belgium at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, so has the added experience and know-how.

Conclusion

The Bafana Bafana 32-player roster includes a handful of those overlooked for the 2025 AFCON. Given the nod before the squad is trimmed are shotstopper Brandon Peterson, the defensive quartet of Bradley Cross, Okon, Olwethu Makhanya, Thabiso Monyane, midfielder Poggenpoel, plus strikers Thapelo Maskeo, Patrick Maswanganyi, Thapeli Morena, Rayners, Kamogelo Sebelebele and Themba Zwane.