South Africa at the World Cup 2026 — squad, group, fixtures & odds
When does South Africa play next?
South Africa have completed their Group A fixtures. Knockout-round opponent depends on other group results — see the live bracket for the projected path.
South Africa
“South Africa face an uphill arc in Group A — the model has them as outsiders. Tournament football has produced bigger upsets, but the maths say the work starts at MD1.”
ONSIDE AI · TOURNAMENT MODEL v5
Cumulative probabilities · Updated each match · 60-min refresh
At the first 48-team World Cup, hosted across USA, Canada and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July 2026. Drawn in Group A with Mexico, South Korea, Czechia.
South Africa vs the rest of Group A
FIFA ranks at draw time. Top two from the group advance directly to the Round of 32; the eight best third-place finishers across all 12 groups also progress.
South Africa's tournament path — the fantasy angle
South Africa's ledger vs Group A
All-time World Cup meetings against this group's other three nations. The history that walks onto the pitch.
South Africa's 3 group matches at a glance
Played matches show actual outcome from South Africa's perspective. Unplayed cells keep the pre-tournament FIFA rank-delta projection.
South Africa is FIFA #60. Group avg rank is #35 — 25 places weaker than the group mean — uphill draw.
South Africa's group-stage matches
| MD | Date | UTC | UK | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thu 11 Jun | 19:00 | 20:00 | |
| 2 | Thu 18 Jun | 16:00 | 17:00 | |
| 3 | Thu 25 Jun | 01:00 | 02:00 |
1 Premier League player representing South Africa
Track these names — their tournament minutes shape your FPL 2026/27 GW1 captaincy shortlist. 1 from Burnley alone.
Source: Premier League official article (29 May 2026). ~ marks players inferred from secondary reporting where the squad wasn't formally announced.
Why South Africa's tournament matters for FPL 2026/27
South Africa's 1 PL player will play 3 group matches before the FPL deadline locks. Watch for minutes, form, and tactical fit at international level — the strongest available signal before pre-season friendlies start.
Pick South Africa stars in FIFA World Cup Fantasy
Use the Onside captain / differential / value picks to assemble a South Africa-heavy XI, then build it in the official FIFA game. In FIFA Fantasy, open the player list and filter by country = South Africa to surface every eligible name.
Onside is not affiliated with FIFA. We publish picks; you play them in the official game.
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