WORLD CUP DUTY BECKONS FOR BUCS STARS
Orlando Pirates will have a strong presence on the international stage, following the announcement of South Africa’s FIFA World Cup squad. The group will represent the country in the world’s premier football tournament taking place in Mexico, the United States and Canada from next month.
The day the nation had been waiting for finally arrived on Wednesday, with the 32 hopefuls that were named in the preliminary squad trimmed down to the 26 that will be representing Bafana Bafana on their return to the world’s biggest stage. The group that made the cut included eight Bucs players rewarded for the consistency that helped the Soweto Giants to a domestic treble in the recently-concluded season.
The main theme in Hugo Broos’ squad was continuity, but a few fresh faces managed to make the grade. These include the versatile Kamogelo Sebelebele who is in the fold for the first time since featuring in World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Nigeria back in September 2025. His stellar performances in both defence and attack in his debut season with the Soweto Giants have earned him a spot in the squad alongside seven Bucs teammates.
This contingent includes goalkeeper Sipho Chaine, who reclaimed his spot among the three travelling shot-stoppers after sitting out the recent Friendlies against Panama.
He is included along with Pirates skipper Nkosinathi Sibisi, with midfielder Thalente Mbatha shoring up the middle of the park. The duo retained their spots from the squad selected for the March internationals alongside the forward quartet of Oswin Appollis, Tshepang Moremi, Relebohile Mofokeng and Evidence Makgopa.
The 26-man squad’s first assignment is a Friendly match against Nicaragua, set to take place at Orlando Amstel Arena on Friday. They will then rekindle rivalries with World Cup co-hosts and Group A rivals Mexico first up in the prestigious tournament when the two nations cross paths in the opening match on 11 June.
The two other teams in Group A are Czechia and South Korea, scheduled to lock horns with Bafana on the 18th and the 24th of June respectively.
Full South Africa 2026 Fifa World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Ronwen Williams, Ricardo Goss, Sipho Chaine.
Defenders: Khuliso Mudau, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Ime Okon, Khulumani Ndamane, Aubrey Modiba, Samukele Kabini, Thabang Matuludi, Olwethu Makhanya, Kamogelo Sebelebele, Bradley Cross, Mbekezeli Mbokazi.
Midfielders: Teboho Mokoena, Thalente Mbatha, Sphephelo Sithole, Jayden Adams.
Strikers: Oswin Appollis, Iqraam Rayners, Tshepang Moremi, Relebohile Mofokeng, Evidence Makgopa, Themba Zwane, Lyle Foster, Thapelo Maseko.
INFO OP website