Hugo Broos has named his final squad for South Africa’s upcoming international friendlies against Panama later this month.
The two matches will be staged in Durban and Cape Town, giving local supporters an opportunity to see the national team in action for what is likely to be the final time on home soil before departing for FIFA World Cup 2026.
Fixtures confirmed
Bafana Bafana will face Panama in:
- Friday, 27 March at Moses Mabhida Stadium – 19:00
- Tuesday, 31 March at Cape Town Stadium – 19:30
Both venues are expected to draw strong crowds as the national team continues its preparations for upcoming competitions.
Broos calls for strong support
Broos has appealed to fans in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape to turn out in large numbers, stressing the importance of home support.
“Come to the stadium and support us… the players do more when there is a difficult moment in the game,” he said.
The coach emphasised that a passionate crowd can play a key role in lifting the team’s performance during challenging moments.
Team preparations underway
The squad will assemble in Tshwane on Monday, 23 March, where they will hold a training camp before travelling to Durban for the first match.
Panama’s preparations are also in motion, with officials already arriving in South Africa and the full squad expected to land in Durban ahead of their training sessions.
Key test ahead
The friendlies offer Broos an opportunity to fine-tune his squad, assess player combinations and build momentum as Bafana Bafana continue their international campaign.
With matches in two major cities, the fixtures are set to provide both competitive action and a boost for local football supporters.
According to the latest FIFA rankings, Panama are ranked 33rd in the world, while South Africa are in 60th spot.
Panama have been drawn in Group L at this year’s FIFA World Cup alongside England, Croatia and Ghana.
Meanwhile, Bafana Bafana have been drawn alongside co-hosts Mexico and South Korea in Group A at FIFA World Cup 2026.
The identity of their third and final group stage opponents has yet to be determined, but will be one of Ireland, Czech Republic, Denmark or North Macedonia.
South Africa will take on Mexico in the opening match of the tournament on 11 June.
Bafana Bafana’s second Group A match will be against the yet-to-be-determined fourth side in the group on 18 June, while their clash against South Korea is scheduled for 24 June.
As a reminder, the top two sides in each of the 12 groups plus the eight best third-ranked sides will progress to the Round of 32 at a World Cup which will feature 48 teams for the first time ever.