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World Cup feature: How Bafana fared at World Cup tournaments through the years – 2026 FIFA World Cup
Siphiwe Tshabalala of South Africa (r) celebrate with Katlego Mphela during the 2010 FIFA World Cup Group A football match between South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City, Johannesburg on 11 June 2010 ©Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
Saturday May 30, 2026. 13:00
After missing out on the FIFA World Cup in the last three tournaments, South Africa will return to the biggest international football stage this year with the sole purpose of breaking their group stage burden.
To begin with, South Africa qualified for the World Cup by topping group C in their CAF qualifying campaign with five wins, three draws and two losses. Bafana fended off top quality sides such as Nigeria and Benin until the last day of their qualifying bid after a 3-0 win over Rwanda secured their ticket to the Americas.
South Africa first featured at the World Cup in 1998, where they were drawn alongside Denmark, Saudi Arabia and eventual winners France. With the tournament held in France, South Africa finished third in their group with no victories.
While boasting talents such as Benni McCarthy, Doctor Khumalo and Quinton Fortune, South Africa recorded a 3-0 loss against a star-laden French side at Stade Velodrome in Marseille. Stalemates against Denmark and Saudi Arabia thereafter saw Bafana pack their bags in what was a spirited showing the first time around.
Bafana then made their way to Korea/Japan in 2002, where Spain, Paraguay and Slovenia awaited their presence in Group B.
South Africa once again finished third in their group, with their only victory coming against Slovenia during a 1-0 result at the Daegu World Cup Stadium as Siyabonga Nomvethe added his name to the scoresheet in the fourth minute.
Then, one of the most exciting matches during the group phase saw South Africa and Spain engage in a see-saw 3-2 result at the Daejeon World Cup Stadium during matchday three.
Spanish legend Raul Gonzalez opened the scoring in the fourth minute, while Benni McCarthy levelled the scoring at the half-hour mark. Gaizka Mendieta then gave Spain the lead on the stroke of half-time.
Inspirational leader Lucas Radebe then drew level in the 53rd minute, which Raul nullified three minutes later, completing his brace and ending a near scare for the Spanish giants.
Bafana’s last showing at the World Cup came in 2010 when they hosted the tournament. The jubilant African side was pitted against Uruguay, Mexico and France in Group A, finishing in third place yet again.
South Africa missed the knockout round due to a marginal negative goal difference, largely resulting from their 3-0 loss against Uruguay in matchday two.
Also, in what was one of the most iconic opening matches in World Cup history, South Africa drew 1-1 with Mexico as Siphiwe Tshabalala’s 55th minute screamer grabbed global attention as the first World Cup goal scored on African soil.
Bafana ended their WC campaign with a memorable 2-1 win against former World Cup kings France at the Free State Stadium, owing to goals by Bongani Khumalo and Katlego Mphela. As they chased a positive goal difference, South Africa came close to scoring on several occasions as the 39,415 strong crowd watched on in awe.
Now though, Bafana were placed alongside South Korea, Czechia and Mexico in Group A, where they will feature in the opening match against Mexico on 11 June at the renowned Azteca Stadium.
Former West Ham, QPR and Czech Republic goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko has died at the age of 64.
Miklosko made almost 400 appearances for the Hammers from 1990 to 1998 and was much loved by supporters, who regularly sang his name long after he left the club.
He later returned as a goalkeeping coach.
Miklosko withdrew from cancer treatment in December 2024, three years after his diagnosis.
Days later he returned to West Ham’s London Stadium for a Premier League match against Liverpool to a hero’s reception.
A West Ham statement read: “It is with deep and profound sadness that West Ham United announces the passing of legendary former goalkeeper and coach, Luděk Miklosko.
“Rest in peace Ludek, our beloved, inspirational goalkeeper and gentle giant of a man.”
More to follow.
Going into the 2026 season, few people would have backed Zverev to win two Grand Slam tournaments, with the German having already lost three major finals in a career which looked in danger of not living up to expectation.
But injuries to his biggest rivals – Alcaraz missing the French Open and Wimbledon, with Sinner ruled out of the US Open – opened the door for Zverev.
A below-par Zverev scraped through the opening rounds at Flushing Meadows in a series of early-morning finishes, but he gradually improved over a fortnight where he did not play a top-20 opponent until Shelton.
Zverev had not lost to Shelton in their five previous meetings and immediately capitalised on a nervy start by his opponent.
Shelton double-faulted on break point in the first game of the match, handing over the type of initiative that opponents often struggle to wrestle back from Zverev.
Through the strength of his first serve, and his ability to unpick Shelton’s weaker backhand in the baseline exchanges, Zverev rolled through the opening set and clinched it when Shelton hit another double fault on set point.
Zverev continued to patiently draw mistakes from Shelton in the second set, but without being gifted a break when his only opportunity arrived in the fourth game.
He instead showed why he has a strong tie-break record with another nerveless display and, unlike in the 2020 US Open final when he lost from a two-set lead, kept his composure in the pressure moments to secure a commanding victory.
Addressing his team which is led by his father Alexander senior and brother Mischa, Zverev said: “We went 30 years without winning a Grand Slam title and now won two in the span of three months.
“I think God has seen how hard we have worked, how hard we have suffered and how much pain we went through.
“I think 2026 is the outcome of all the years that happened before.”
With Haaland’s goal settling the match, United were unsurprisingly disappointed by the decision.
“I think it was offside,” said Martinez. “And what I can’t understand is the rules. I want to be calm now, I want to control myself.
“It’s so hard because you lose a derby, you lose three points at home, and every season they’re [referees] coming to our club, they explain for one hour the rules, and they look so confident with that, and then after [there are] five or six people doing these kind of mistakes in the Premier League – it’s unacceptable.
“It’s the best league in the world, you have the best teams in the world, the best players in the world, and now we have to go home with this injustice.”
United boss Carrick also expressed his confusion.
“We put things in place in the game now, we have people in offices with all the screens for this decision,” he said.
“It’s more worrying about if that’s the interpretation of football now. If that’s the interpretation of not interfering in the game now, that’s really worrying for me. It’s a staggering explanation.
“The decision isn’t going to change the season, but it’s had a major impact on the game.”
Wayne Rooney, part of the BBC’s MOTD2 team, said: “Surely it’s offside. Martinez is impacted by Fernandez’s movement, and he is offside.”
Gary Neville said on Sky Sports: “I think we’ll see some sort of apology from the referee’s association, there’s no doubt Fernandez is playing that ball and is trying to put off Martinez. I think it’s one they’ll recognising they got wrong.”
Micah Richards added: “I think it’s been a bad day for referees. They got the Foden decision wrong and the Fernandez decision wrong. I think they got it so wrong but I don’t think it takes anything away from City’s performance.”
Meanwhile, City boss Maresca said: “I think it was onside clearly so it’s good.”
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