Burnley striker Lyle Foster has earned his place in South Africa's 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as Bafana Bafana prepare to return to the tournament finals for the first time since they hosted the competition in 2010.
Foster stands as the only British-based player in the group selected by 74-year-old Belgian coach Hugo Broos. The remaining 19 members of the squad are drawn from the South African domestic league, underlining the depth of local talent Broos has nurtured during his tenure.
A defining group-stage challenge
South Africa open their campaign against co-hosts Mexico on 11 June in Mexico City — a fixture that sets the tone for what promises to be a fiercely competitive Group A. Broos's side then face Czech Republic in Atlanta on 18 June, before rounding off the group stage against South Korea in Monterrey on 24 June.
It marks a significant moment for South African football. Bafana Bafana have appeared in three previous World Cup finals, debuting in 1998 and qualifying again in 2002 before hosting the 2010 tournament on home soil. They were eliminated in the group stages on each of those appearances.
Uncapped inclusions and difficult choices
Among the more notable selections are uncapped defenders Olwethu Makhanya and Bradley Cross. Cross had been part of Newcastle United's academy but departed without making a senior appearance, and has since secured a place at Kaizer Chiefs.
Broos acknowledged the weight of the decisions he faced in finalising the squad.
