South Africa showed the magic in the FIFA World Cup 2010, which they hosted proudly. Although Bafana Bafana haven’t crossed the group stage in any of their three editions of their FIFA World Cup appearances, their presence in the 2010 edition was incredible and unforgettable for the fans.
Despite some trouble, South Africa made a solid comeback in the qualifiers to secure their place for the FIFA World Cup 2026, which is their return to the tournament after hosting it in the 2010 edition. South Africa are ready to experience their fourth FIFA World Cup edition, where they want to play their first knockout stage game in the competition’s history. Here’s the South Africa Squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Note: All the records are till FIFA World Cup 2022
(Team Records)
Contents
Brief records
Hosts
Best Result
Final place in every edition
Last records
Match records (Top 3)
> Biggest winning margin
> Biggest losing margin
South Africa’s brief records in FIFA World Cup history
Participation | Matches | Won | Drawn* | Penalty shootout | Lost | Winning %* | |
Won | Lost | ||||||
3/22 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 22 |
(Drawn: including penalty shootout matches; Winning %: excluding penalty shootouts)
Hosts: 2010
Best Result: Group Stage
South Africa’s final place in every FIFA World Cup
Year | Host(s) | Last position |
1930 | Uruguay | Did not enter |
1934 | Italy | Did not enter |
1938 | France | Did not enter |
1950 | Brazil | Did not enter |
1954 | Switzerland | Did not enter |
1958 | Sweden | Did not enter |
1962 | Chile | Did not enter |
1966 | England | Not Admitted |
1970 | Mexico | Banned |
1974 | West Germany | Banned |
1978 | Argentina | Banned |
1982 | Spain | Banned |
1986 | Mexico | Banned |
1990 | Italy | Banned |
1994 | USA | Did not qualify |
1998 | France | Group Stage |
2002 | South Korea & Japan | Group Stage |
2006 | Germany | Did not qualify |
2010 | South Africa | Group Stage |
2014 | Brazil | Did not qualify |
2018 | Russia | Did not qualify |
2022 | Qatar | Did not qualify |
Last time in FIFA World Cup for South Africa
Last Champions: Never
Last Runners-up: Never
Last Finalists: Never
Last Third Place: Never
Last Fourth Place: Never
Last Semi-finals exit: Never
Last Quarter-finals exit: Never
Last Round of 16 exit: Never
Last Group Stage exit: 2010
Last Failed to Qualify: 2022
South Africa’s match records in FIFA World Cup (Top 3)
Biggest winning margin | Biggest losing margin |
2-1 vs France in 2010 | 3-0 vs France in 1998 |
1-0 vs Slovenia in 2002 | 3-0 vs Uruguay in 2010 |
– | 3-2 vs Spain in 2002 |
(Players’ Records)
Contents
Top 5 most appearances
Top 2 most goals
Top 5 most appearances for South Africa in FIFA World Cup
Player | Appearances |
Quinton Fortune | 6 |
Benni McCarthy | 6 |
Lucas Radebe | 6 |
Aaron Mokoena | 6 |
Pierre Issa | 4 |
MacBeth Sibaya | 4 |
Top 2 most goals for South Africa in FIFA World Cup
Player | Goals |
Shaun Bartlett | 2 |
Benni McCarthy | 2 |
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