Return after 16 years — following the home World Cup 2010, when they became the only hosts in history to fail to advance from the group stage. Belgian Hugo Broos finished ahead of Nigeria in qualifying and became the first coach to bring South Africa to a World Cup abroad since 2002.
Group stage confirmed, playoffs — date range and potential venues. Playoff schedule to be finalized after Round of 16 draw.
A Belgian who won the Africa Cup of Nations with Cameroon in 2017. Took over South Africa in May 2021, guided them through AFCON 2023 (3rd place) and AFCON 2025 (Round of 16). A rigid 4-2-3-1 with an emphasis on physicality.
No. 1 at Mamelodi Sundowns, national team captain. At AFCON 2024 in the quarterfinal against Cabo Verde, he saved 4 shots in the penalty shootout.
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No. 9 at Burnley. Came through Orlando Pirates, Monaco and Westerlo. In December 2023 publicly spoke about battling depression and took a break — returned to playing in 2024.
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Defensive midfielder at Mamelodi Sundowns. At AFCON 2023 scored two long-range goals — in the group match against Tunisia and in the quarterfinal against Cabo Verde.
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Winger at Orlando Pirates. AFCON 2023 revelation — the tournament's youngest player, named CAF Best Young Player.
File4 tournaments — 1998, 2002, 2010, 2026. Best result — three draws on debut in 1998 (but did not advance). In 2010 as hosts — the only host nation in history to fail to advance from the group stage.
Goalkeeper at Orlando Pirates. One of the backup goalkeepers for the national team.
Reserve goalkeeper for Bafana Bafana.
Experienced goalkeeper at Siveleleni (Pretoria Callies). Third goalkeeper for the national team.
Third goalkeeper for Bafana Bafana.
Young central defender at Queens Park Rangers in the Championship. Product of English football.
Young addition to the starting lineup.
Defender at TS Galaxy — a DStv Premiership club.
Regular call-up to the squad.
Left-back Mamelodi Sundowns. Multiple DStv Premiership champion with the club.
Regular starter. Bronze at AFCON 2023.
Young defender at Orlando Pirates.
Young squad addition.
Defender at Molde in the Norwegian Eliteserien. One of the national team's foreign-based players in Scandinavia.
Regular call-up to the squad.
Experienced defender at Orlando Pirates.
Regular call-up to the squad.
Right-back Mamelodi Sundowns.
Bronze at AFCON 2023.
Tall central defender at FCSB (Bucharest) — Romania's champions. One of the tallest in the squad.
Regular starter.
Tall centre-back at Polokwane City.
Squad depth.
Diminutive, tenacious midfielder at Orlando Pirates. One of the shortest in the squad.
Regular call-up to the squad.
Midfielder for Tondela in the Portuguese Primeira Liga.
Regular call-up to the squad.
Midfielder at Mamelodi Sundowns. An option in the holding midfield role.
Regular call-up to the squad.
Attacking midfielder for Orlando Pirates.
Regular call-up to the squad.
Winger at Orlando Pirates.
Regular call-up to the squad.
Winger at Orlando Pirates.
Regular call-up to the squad.
Young winger at Al-Ittifaq in the Saudi Pro League.
Young squad addition.
Forward at Al-Hazem in the Saudi Pro League.
Regular call-up to the squad.
Tall centre-forward at Orlando Pirates.
Regular call-up to the squad.
Young striker for Brugge, Belgian champions.
Young squad addition.
Bafana Bafana veteran. Played for Mamelodi Sundowns, Brighton (including loans at Sion, Brugge, Anderlecht), Al-Ahly, Qatar SC. Named South Africa's Footballer of the Year in 2017.
Experienced player, bronze medalist at AFCON 2023.
Captain and No. 1 of Bafana Bafana. Product of SuperSport United, since 2022 at Mamelodi Sundowns. Named goalkeeper of AFCON 2023.
Debut in 2016. Captain since 2022. Bronze at AFCON 2023.
February 3, 2024, Yamoussoukro: AFCON 2023 quarterfinal South Africa vs. Cabo Verde ended 0:0 in regular and extra time. In the penalty shootout, Williams saved four of five shots — an AFCON penalty shootout record. South Africa advanced; by tournament's end, Williams received the award for best goalkeeper.
Striker for Burnley. Product of Orlando Pirates, developed through Monaco, Cercle Brugge, Adana Demirspor, and Westerlo. Joined Burnley in summer 2023.
Debut in 2018. Bronze at AFCON 2023.
In December 2023, Burnley officially announced that Foster was taking a break due to mental health concerns. In subsequent interviews, the player spoke openly about his struggle with depression. He returned to club matches in 2024. The story became a rare example of public discussion about mental health in the Premier League.
Defensive midfielder for Mamelodi Sundowns. Product of SuperSport United. Known for long-range strikes and set pieces.
Bronze at AFCON 2023.
January 30, 2024, San-Pédro: AFCON 2023 Round of 16, Morocco vs. South Africa, 0:2. Mokwena scored both goals, the second with a powerful long-range strike. A stunning upset: South Africa eliminated the tournament favorites.
Left winger for Orlando Pirates. South Africa's youngest player at AFCON 2023.
Debut in 2023. Bronze at AFCON 2023.
At AFCON 2023 (January–February 2024 in Côte d'Ivoire), 19-year-old Mofokeng was named CAF Best Young Player of the tournament. South Africa finished third — the national team's first medal at AFCON since 2000.