South Africa vs Panama: 5 ways these friendlies matter for Bafana’s World Cup preparations

Bafana Bafana are set to play Panama in two friendly matches ahead of the 2026 World Cup and the games are key for their preparations for the tournament.

South Africa will host Panama, who also qualified for the World Cup, in Durban Friday March 27 before taking on the same side in Cape Town on Tuesday March 31.

Those two games will give coach Hugo Broos a picture of how his team is likely to cope at the World Cup given there will probably be one more match at the end of May before they depart to Mexico but how important are these games to South Africa?

South Africa players at AFCON 2025. — Bafana Bafana players at AFCON 2025. Photo – Imago

Build confidence

Bafana boss Hugo Broos has always maintained that it is important to head into a major tournament with a positive vibe and this comes from winning matches.

Victory in both games will give Bafana players a spring in their step ahead of the major tournament in Mexico, United States and Canada and they will need it in plenty given they will be up against the co-hosts, South Korea and a European side that will be either Denmark, Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland and North Macedonia.

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

Create patterns and combinations

Games like these are where coaches like to experiment with different systems and patterns to see what could possibly work and suit the players before the tournament.

This will be an opportunity for Broos to see if either a back three, 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 can work at the World Cup and which players best suit which system while also preparing how their opponents are likely to play.

ohau Nkota in training with Bafana Bafana. Photo - SAFA — ohau Nkota in training with Bafana Bafana. Photo – SAFA

Test players in new positions

Broos has already declared Relebohile Mofokeng will no longer play as a winger and these are the games where he will be assessed to see his suitability for the No.10 role.

It is not just Rele but there are likely to be new partnerships in defence and midfield as well as a chance to look at different players in attack.

There are goalkeepers who will also get a chance to impress Broos and perhaps stake a claim for a place on the plane to the World Cup.

Hugo Broos and Relebohile Mofokeng. Teko Modise supports Mofokeng's positional change. — Hugo Broos and Relebohile Mofokeng. Photo: SAFA Media

Chance to pick a World Cup team?

Still too early but Broos will perhaps leave the two matches with an idea of who he will likely trust and who he will not at the World Cup.

There are already players who seem guaranteed a spot in the team but there are many still with a lot to do to convince the Bafana boss.

Their technical ability, application and attitude in these two matches will have a huge impact on how Broos selects his team even if a lot will still change between now and June when the team departs to the World Cup.

South Africa coach Hugo Broos at AFCON 2025 with Bafana Bafana. Image: Imago — Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos at AFCON 2025. Image: Imago

Boost FIFA rankings

South Africa head into the two matches against Panama in position 60 on the FIFA rankings but given their opponents are ranked 27 places higher in position 33, a good result will greatly boost their rankings.

South Africa had improved in the last two years, hovering between position 45 and 58 but they dropped after a Round of 16 exit at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

However, wins against Panama will lift them to a higher position when the next ranking update is made on April 1 and this will also act as a great motivator.