Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has announced his 32-member preliminary squad for the 2026 Fifa World Cup, with Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns boasting the highest representation. Broos is set to announce his final squad on May 27 at the Union Buildings, which could include up to 26 players, with a minimum of 23.
The provisional squad announced by Broos on Thursday night had no major surprises, with Pirates and Sundowns dominating the list with nine players each. The strong presence of the two teams reflects their dominance this season, with Pirates in line to win three domestic trophies and Sundowns on course to win the CAF Champions League crown.
Bafana Bafana Squad Selection
Broos has also picked his previous mainstay goalkeepers Ronwen Williams, Sipho Chaine, and Ricardo Goss, as well as Kaizer Chiefs’ Brandon Petersen, who has been in fine form for Chiefs, helping his team secure a third-place finish in the league. Petersen’s inclusion has created a potential goalkeeping selection headache for Broos, who will have to choose between him, Chaine, and Goss to deputise No 1 and captain Williams at the global showpiece.
Goss, who was speaking during Siwelele’s media open day in Johannesburg, admitted that he dreams of being part of the team that’ll represent the nation in North America next month. According to the Fifa World Cup rules, each team must have a minimum of 23 players and a maximum of 26 players in their final squad.
Goalkeeping Selection Headache
The goalkeeping selection headache is not the only challenge Broos faces, as he will also have to choose from a talented pool of outfield players. The squad includes a mix of experienced players and young talent, with the likes of Lebogang Maboe and Thabiso Monyane from Kaizer Chiefs making the cut.
Here is the full 32-man preliminary squad:
- Ronwen Williams
- Sipho Chaine
- Ricardo Goss
- Brandon Petersen
- Lebogang Maboe
- Thabiso Monyane
- Bradley Cross
- And 25 other players
The final squad will be announced on May 27, and Broos will have to make some tough decisions to trim his squad to 23-26 players. As the South African Football Association prepares for the World Cup, fans will be eagerly awaiting the final squad announcement.
