South Africa, the final group-stage opponent for South Korea's national team led by Hong Myung-bo at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, has announced its squad for the tournament.
Belgian-born Hugo Broos, head coach of the South African national football team, unveiled the 26-man final squad for the World Cup on Tuesday at the presidential guesthouse in Pretoria, South Africa, with President Cyril Ramaphosa and South African Football Association President Danny Jordaan in attendance.
Of the 26 players, 19 play in the country's domestic Premiership. Eight were selected from Mamelodi Sundowns, this season's CAF Champions League winners, and another eight from Orlando Pirates, who ended Sundowns' nine-year domestic title streak to claim the South African league championship for the first time in 14 years.
The remaining seven players come from leagues in Europe and the United States. Five play in European leagues, including key forward Lyle Foster (Burnley, England), defender Nkosinathi Sibisi — note: defender Ime Okon (Hannover, Germany), midfielders Samukelo Kabini (Molde, Norway) and Sphephelo Sithole (Tondela, Portugal), and forward Tapelo Maseko (Limassol, Cyprus). Foster's club Burnley played in the English Premier League (EPL) this season but has been relegated to the Championship (second division) next season, meaning no player on the squad currently competes in a top European league.
Two more spots were filled by defenders playing in Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States: Olwethu Makhanya (Philadelphia Union) and Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Chicago Fire).
South Africa will compete at the World Cup for the fourth time overall and for the first time in 16 years since hosting the tournament in 2010.
At the World Cup in North America, South Africa is in Group A and will play South Korea in their final group-stage match at 10 a.m. on June 25 at the Monterrey Stadium in Mexico.
South Africa will hold its World Cup send-off match against Nicaragua at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on the 30th, Korea time. The team will then travel to Mexico for a friendly against Jamaica before beginning its World Cup campaign.
