South Africa’s Group Stage fixtures
What is for sure is that South Africa will be playing in Group A at the World Cup, opening the tournament against co-hosts Mexico before games against Czech Republic and South Korea.
June 11, 21:00 CEST: Mexico vs South Africa - Mexico City, Mexico
June 18, 18:00 CEST: Czech Republic vs South Africa - Atlanta, USA
June 25, 03:00 CEST: South Africa vs South Korea - Monterrey, Mexico
Finishing first or second in the group will see South Africa progress to the Round of 32. If Bafana Bafana finish third, they must wait to discover if they are among the eight best third-placed teams across the 12 groups that will reach the Round of 32.
Finishing bottom of the group, or being among the four worst third-placed teams, means elimination. Statisticians have suggested that three points and a -1 goal difference will probably be enough to advance as a best third-placed team.
The 2026 World Cup Groups
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czech Republic
Group B: Canada, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Haiti, Morocco, Scotland
Group D: Australia, Paraguay, Turkey, United States
Group E: Curacao, Ecuador, Germany, Ivory Coast
Group F: Japan, Netherlands, Sweden, Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group I: France, Iraq, Norway, Senegal
Group J: Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Jordan
Group K: Colombia, DR Congo, Portugal, Uzbekistan
Group L: Croatia, England, Ghana, Panama
South Africa’s potential Round of 32 opponents
If South Africa finish first in Group A, they will face a third-placed team from Group C, E, F, H or I in Mexico City at 03:00 CEST on July 1.
Those groups contain some serious heavyweights, including Brazil, Germany, Netherlands, Spain and France, so topping the pool does not necessarily guarantee an easy next assignment if one of them fails to fire.
But the exact opponent will depend on which third-placed teams qualify and how the bracket is allocated.
If South Africa finish as runners-up in Group A, they will face the runners-up in Group B in Los Angeles at 21:00 CEST on June 28.
Group B contains Canada, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Qatar and Switzerland, with Switzerland and co-hosts Canada likely to be among the favourites to finish in the top two.
If South Africa finish third in Group A and progress, they could find themselves in one of these two Round of 32 matches, depending on which groups other third-placed teams qualify from:
Match 74 - June 29, 22:30 CEST: vs Winner of Group E in Boston, likely Germany
Match 82 - July 1, 22:00 CEST: vs Winner of Group G in Seattle, likely Belgium
South Africa’s potential Round of 16 opponents
If South Africa win Group A and then navigate their Round of 32 clash, they will stay in Mexico City for a Round of 16 tie at 02:00 CEST on July 6.
There, they will face the winner of Match 80, which pits the winners of Group L, likely England or Croatia, against a third-placed team from Group E, H, I, J or K.
If South Africa finish second in Group A and beat the runners-up in Group B, they will face the winner of Match 75 in the Round of 16 in Houston at 19:00 CEST on July 4.
That match is between the winners of Group F, likely Netherlands, and the runners-up in Group C, likely Brazil or Morocco.
If South Africa finish third in Group A and beat the winners of Group E, they will play the winner of Match 77 in the Round of 16 in Philadelphia at 23:00 CEST on July 4.
Match 77 is between the winners of Group I, likely France or Senegal, and a third-placed side from Group C, D, F, G or H.
If South Africa finish third in Group A and beat the winners of Group G, they will face the winner of Match 81 in the Round of 16 in Seattle at 02:00 CEST on July 7.
Match 81 is between the winners of Group D, likely Paraguay or United States, and a third-placed side from Group B, E, F, I or J.
South Africa’s potential Quarter-final opponents
If South Africa win Group A and reach the Quarter-finals, they would play Match 99 in Miami at 23:00 CEST on July 11.
Their opponents would be the winners of Match 91, which involves the winners of Match 76 and Match 78.
That means the possible Quarter-final route would likely draw from these teams: Brazil, Morocco, Germany, Ivory Coast, Netherlands, Japan, France or Senegal.
If South Africa finish second in Group A and reach the Quarter-finals, they would play Match 97 in Boston at 22:00 CEST on July 9.
Their opponents would come from the winner of Match 89, which involves the winners of Match 74 and Match 77. That could bring in teams from a wide spread of groups, including Group E winners, Group I winners and several possible third-placed sides.
If South Africa finish third in Group A and reach the Quarter-finals, their path depends on which Round of 32 match they were placed into.
If they came through Match 74 and then Match 89, they would play Match 97 in Boston at 22:00 CEST on July 9.
If they came through Match 82 and then Match 94, they would play Match 98 in Los Angeles at 21:00 CEST on July 10.
Semi-finals, Third-place Play-off and Final
If South Africa reach the Semi-finals having won Group A, they will play in the second of the two last-four matches:
Match 102 - July 15, 21:00 CEST: vs Winner of Match 100 in Atlanta
If South Africa reach the Semi-finals having finished second in Group A, they will play in the first Semi-final:
Match 101 - July 14, 21:00 CEST: vs Winner of Match 98 in Dallas
If South Africa reach the Semi-finals having finished third in Group A, they are most likely to be in the first Semi-final, depending on which third-place route they were allocated.
The dates and times for the Third-place Play-off and World Cup Final are as follows:
Match 103 - July 18, 23:00 CEST: Third-place Play-off in Miami
World Cup Final in New York New Jersey
