"Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos names a 32-player preliminary squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, showcasing the dominance of Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns while Kaizer Chiefs make a notable return.
Image: AFP
Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has unveiled a 32-man preliminary squad ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns emerging as the biggest contributors.
The final squad, which will be announced on May 27 at the Union Buildings, will be trimmed to between 23 and 26 players for the global showpiece.
As expected, there were no major surprises in Broos’ provisional selection announced on Thursday night, with Pirates and Sundowns once again forming the backbone of the national team setup. Both clubs have nine players each in the squad, reflecting their continued dominance in domestic and continental football.
Orlando Pirates’ strong representation comes as the club edges closer to a potential treble, having already secured the MTN8 and Carling Knockout, while competing for the Betway Premiership title. Mamelodi Sundowns, meanwhile, remain in contention for CAF Champions League honours.
Kaizer Chiefs also feature more prominently than in recent selections, with four players included: Thabiso Monyane, Brandon Petersen, Bradley Cross and Lebohang Maboe.
Petersen’s inclusion adds further complexity to Broos’ goalkeeping decision, with the Chiefs shot-stopper competing against Orlando Pirates’ Sipho Chaine, Sundowns’ Ricardo Goss, and Bafana captain Ronwen Williams for limited places.
Petersen has impressed in goal for Chiefs this season, helping the club secure a third-place league finish, while Chaine has enjoyed a standout campaign with a record 20 clean sheets in Pirates’ title push. Goss has also been in strong form, keeping 15 clean sheets.
The competition for the goalkeeping positions has sparked debate over who will ultimately serve as Williams’ deputy at the World Cup.
Despite calls for his inclusion, Sundowns defender Keanu Cupido was not named in the preliminary squad.
Goss, speaking during Siwelele’s media open day in Johannesburg this week, acknowledged the challenge of breaking into the final squad but said representing South Africa at a World Cup remains a lifelong ambition.
He also highlighted the improved standard of goalkeeping in the Betway Premiership this season, noting the increased number of clean sheets across top keepers.
The depth in the position is expected to give Broos a selection headache as he finalises his squad for North America next month.
IOL