Hugo Broos is expected to name his final Bafana Bafana squad in the coming weeks ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
South Africa will be making their fourth appearance at the global showpiece, which will be hosted across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Drawn in Group A, Bafana are set to open their campaign against Mexico, with South Korea and Czech Republic also in their group.
With just under 50 days remaining before kickoff, Broos appears to have largely settled on his core squad. However, recent friendly matches against Panama exposed areas of concern, particularly in defence and midfield, where improvements may still be needed.
Going forward, Bafana look promising, and with one or two key additions, they could emerge as a competitive force in the tournament.
When will Broos name his final Bafana World Cup squad?
In terms of squad submission, all national teams are required to submit a preliminary squad of between 35 and 55 players to FIFA between 11 and 13 May, 2026. The final squad, consisting of 23 to 26 players must then be confirmed by 30 May or 1 June 1, just days before the tournament kicks off on June 11.
Broos is expected to name his preliminary squad shortly after the highly anticipated clash between Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
A significant portion of the squad is likely to come from Sundowns and Orlando Pirates, although Kaizer Chiefs’ recent improvement in form could see three or four of their players included in the preliminary selection.
Bafana Bafana qualified for the World Cup after finishing top of their group in October. Although they are not among the favourites to win the tournament, a good showing is what many South Africans hope for.
The Belgian tactician is also expected to rely heavily on the core group that featured in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. While a few new faces may break into the squad, Broos has consistently shown a preference for experience when selecting his final team.
