Bafana Bafana to face Panama in World Cup Warm-Up friendlies

Bafana Bafana will take on Panama in two international friendly matches in South Africa later this year as part of their preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The matches are scheduled to take place between 27 and 31 March 2026, providing head coach Hugo Broos and his technical team with an important opportunity to assess the squad’s readiness ahead of the global tournament.

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The friendlies form part of South Africa’s structured build-up programme as the team intensifies preparations for the World Cup, set to be hosted in the United States, Canada and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July 2026.

Broos is expected to use the fixtures to fine-tune tactical systems, test player combinations and strengthen competitiveness within the squad. The technical team also views the matches as a platform to evaluate depth and build team cohesion under near-tournament conditions.

Panama, currently ranked 33rd in the world, were identified as suitable opponents due to their physical style of play and tactical discipline — qualities similar to teams South Africa could face on the world stage.

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Following the FIFA World Cup draw held in Washington DC in December 2025, Bafana Bafana were placed in Group A alongside hosts Mexico, South Korea and the winner of UEFA Playoff D.

SAFA is expected to confirm venues, kick-off times and ticketing details soon.