Bafana told to aim for World Cup win - ‘Surprises are inevitable’

Former Bafana Bafana coach Augusto Palacios has challenged South Africa to set their sights on winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting that merely qualifying for the tournament is not enough.

South Africa are in Group A, where they will compete against host nation Mexico, currently ranked 16th in the world, and 22nd-ranked South Korea. The final team in the group will be determined through play-offs, with Denmark (21st on FIFA rankings), the Czech Republic (43rd), North Macedonia (66th), or Iceland (69th) as potential opponents.

Ahead of the global showpiece, Bafana Bafana, ranked 60th, are scheduled to play two friendly matches against 33rd-ranked Panama. The first encounter will take place in Durban on Friday, followed by a second match four days later at the DHL Cape Town Stadium.

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos ready for national team assignment. — Image – SAFA

South Africa told to target World Cup win

Palacios emphasised that rankings are irrelevant on match day. “Football is won by performance on the day, not by rankings,” he told KickOff. “You can be ranked 10th and still not win the World Cup. We’ve seen that happen repeatedly.”

The former coach also praised the current selection criteria under Hugo Broos, stating that player form is paramount. “No player should secure a spot in the World Cup squad without performing well at his club. Hugo Broos’ selection process clearly assesses players based on performance,” he noted.

Looking ahead to the tournament, Palacios believes every team has a chance to succeed and that South Africa must adopt a winning mentality from the start.

Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Tylon Smith and Thalente Mbatha, Bafana Bafana — Image – SAFA

Can Bafana surprise in North America?

“Nobody can predict the winner of the World Cup. All teams have an equal chance, and surprises are inevitable. We must arrive confident and aim to go as far as possible,” he urged.

“We shouldn’t go to the World Cup aiming merely for a draw against Mexico. Every team should enter with the ambition to win. Approach the tournament with determination because nobody knows who will emerge victorious. Our goal must be to win the trophy or to advance as far as we can.”