South Africa has named two new defenders, Olwethu Makhanya and Bradley Cross, to its World Cup squad. Neither player has played for the national team before. The squad is heavily made up of players from Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates, with eight players from each team.
Sundowns recently won the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League. They beat FAR Rabat 2-1 in the final. Orlando Pirates also became South African Premiership champions for the first time since 2012. This ended Sundowns' eight-year winning streak in the league.
A surprising player left out was Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Petersen. He had been playing very well, helping his club finish third. Petersen was expected to play in warm-up matches but had appendix surgery.
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Start Your News DetoxCoach Hugo Broos mostly stuck with the players who helped South Africa qualify for the World Cup. This is the team's first appearance in 16 years. Themba Zwane, a 36-year-old playmaker, also made the squad.
Broos included 19 local players in his 26-man squad. Five play in Europe and two play in the United States.
South Africa will play co-hosts Mexico in the first tournament match on June 11. Their other Group A games are against the Czech Republic on June 18 and South Korea on June 24.
Makhanya, 22, is a center-back for Philadelphia Union in the US. Cross, 25, is a left-back for Kaizer Chiefs. He used to be in the academy at Newcastle United. Neither player was part of the qualifying games. Broos chose them to add more defensive options. Aubrey Modiba, a regular left-back, was also picked despite a hamstring injury.
Burnley striker Lyle Foster will lead the attack. Broos sees Zwane's experience as key for the team. Most of the players, 19 out of 26, play in the South African league.
Broos knows some players will be disappointed. He said it was hard to make the final choices. He hopes he picked the right players.
South Africa has played in three previous World Cups. They debuted in 1998, qualified in 2002, and hosted in 2010. They did not get past the group stage in any of those tournaments.
Broos believes his team can make history and reach the second round. He knows they are considered underdogs in Group A. He pointed out that upsets happen in football, like Morocco reaching the semifinals in the last World Cup.
This World Cup will be the last for coach Broos, 74. He plans to retire after the tournament. He played for Belgium in the 1986 World Cup, also hosted in Mexico, where his team finished fourth.
Broos said there's no better way to end his career than at a World Cup. He believes his squad is full of fighters and is excited to see what they can achieve.
South Africa World Cup 2026 squad
Goalkeepers: Sipho Chaine (Orlando Pirates), Ricardo Goss (Siwelele), Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Defenders: Aubrey Modiba, Khuliso Mudau, Khulumani Ndamane (all Sundowns), Kamogelo Sebelebele, Nkosinathi Sibisi (both Pirates), Bradley Cross (Kaizer Chiefs), Samukele Kabini (Molde/Norway), Olwethu Makhanya (Philadelphia Union/USA), Thabang Matuludi (Polokwane City), Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Chicago Fire/USA), Ime Okon (Hannover/Germany)
Midfielders: Oswin Appollis, Thalente Mbatha, Relebohile Mofokeng (all Pirates), Jayden Adams, Teboho Mokoena, Themba Zwane (all Sundowns), Sphephelo Sithole (Tondela/Portugal)
Forwards: Evidence Makgopa, Tshepang Moremi (both Pirates), Lyle Foster (Burnley/England), Thapelo Maseko (AEL Limassol/Cyprus), Iqraam Rayners (Sundowns)
