Broos explains Bafana’s biggest World Cup advantage

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has identified what he feels will give South Africa an advantage at the 2026 World Cup.

South Africa are in a tough Group A that has co-hosts Mexico, Czech Republic as well as South Korea and will need to be at their absolute best to make it to the knockout rounds.

Bafana Bafana have never gone past the group stage in all their three World Cup appearances in 1998, 2002 and 2010 but Broos believes the element of surprise can play in their favour.

What is South Africa’s World Cup advantage?

The Belgian coach feels the fact that South Africa will be among the teams that few will give a chance at the tournament takes the weight of expectations from their shoulders and they can use it as the weapon to hurt their opponents in North America.

“Nobody expects Panama or South Africa in the quarter-finals or whatever,” said Broos as per iDiski Times.

“And this is maybe an advantage for us also, that we can make a surprise, that we can be surprising for the opponent, that they don’t know really how strong we are.”

Broos happy with Panama friendlies

Broos was speaking after watching his side lose 2-1 to Panama in Cape Town on Tuesday, the second match against the Central Americans in four days, having drawn 1-1 in Durban last Friday.

The two games gave Broos a good outlook about his team’s level of preparedness for the World Cup and he picked vital lessons that he wants to implement.

“And again, what I said in the beginning, I’m very, very happy with those two games against Panama,” he added. “It will help us a lot, certainly. And I hope that it’s the same thing for the Panama coach.”

South Africa will play the 2026 World Cup opener against Mexico on June 10 before taking on Czech Republic and then South Korea.