Bafana Bafana are going to the World Cup – And North America is calling!
After 16 years in the wilderness, South Africa’s national team has punched their ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
For expats across the globe, this is more than just football – it’s a chance to reunite and celebrate.
The scenes at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday evening will live long in the memory.
A comprehensive 3-0 victory over Rwanda, combined with Nigeria’s demolition of Benin, saw Hugo Broos’s men seal qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Long wait
Thalente Mbatha’s stunning opener, Oswin Appollis’s clinical volley, and Evidence Makgopa’s late strike sparked wild celebrations as South Africa topped Group C.
It’s been a long wait.
The last time Bafana Bafana graced a World Cup was on home soil in 2010.
Before that, memorable campaigns in 1998 and 2002 showed what South African football could achieve.
Since 2010, there have been too many heartbreaking near-misses.
But under Broos, this team has found the winning mentality needed to get over the line.
The North American Opportunity
Here’s where it gets exciting.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico – with 16 cities from Vancouver to Miami.
For South African expats, particularly those in North America (or Europe), this is the chance of a lifetime.
No expensive flights to distant continents. No complicated visa arrangements. Just the opportunity to watch Bafana on the world stage, possibly in a city near you.
When will we next have a World Cup this close? When will Bafana Bafana next qualify? The stars have aligned.
More Than Just Football
This isn’t just about 90 minutes on the pitch. It’s about fan zones, braais in parking lots, spontaneous renditions of “Shosholoza,” and reconnecting with fellow South Africans.
For expats missing home, this is your moment – thousands converging with flags waving, vuvuzelas echoing, and that unmistakable feeling of home.
The tournament runs 11 June to 19 July 2026. Start planning now. Connect with other expats. Create WhatsApp groups. Book those days off. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity.
As for me? I’m already making plans to get tickets. Time to tap up some of my chommies and start the group chat – this is one trip we can’t miss. Whether you’re in New York, Toronto, or anywhere within striking distance of North America (or Europe), start rallying the troops.
Hugo Broos has given us something to celebrate together. Bafana Bafana are going to the World Cup, and we should all be there to witness it. Dust off that jersey and get ready.
Ke Nako
