South Africa

South Africa, known as Bafana Bafana ("The Boys"), are 1996 AFCON champions who famously hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup and return to the tournament in 2026 for the first time in 16 years under coach Hugo Broos, with goalkeeper-captain Ronwen Williams as their talisman.

South Africa's football association dates to 1892, making SAFA one of the oldest on the continent, but decades of apartheid isolation meant the nation was banned from FIFA and CAF competition for much of the 20th century. Readmitted in 1992, Bafana Bafana made an immediate impact — winning the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations as tournament hosts, with striker Benni McCarthy (later to become the all-time top scorer with 31 goals) becoming a national hero.

The late 1990s and early 2000s brought further success: runners-up at the 1998 AFCON, third place in 2000, and World Cup appearances in 1998 and 2002. The crowning moment came in 2010 when South Africa hosted the FIFA World Cup — the first time the tournament was held on African soil — though Bafana Bafana made history of a bittersweet kind, becoming the first host nation to exit in the group stage.

After a 16-year absence from World Cups, South Africa qualified for the 2026 tournament under Hugo Broos, who also guided them to third place at the 2023 AFCON. Goalkeeper Ronwen Williams captains a squad that blends experienced Premiership-based players like Lyle Foster with exciting young talents. Ranked 60th in the world, Bafana Bafana arrive in North America with momentum and continental pedigree.