Hugo Broos backs Mamelodi Sundowns core as key to South Africa’s World Cup 2026 push

South Africa head coach Hugo Broos has highlighted the importance of Mamelodi Sundowns’ players in his squad as South Africa prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, stressing that their experience in high-pressure continental football could prove decisive on the global stage.

Broos included eight players from the Pretoria-based club in his final squad for the tournament, although Thapelo Morena was ultimately ruled out after medical staff were unable to clear him in time.

The Belgian coach was speaking at a press conference when asked about the value of Sundowns’ players, many of whom have featured regularly in the CAF Champions League and are accustomed to demanding away environments across Africa.

He pointed to their ability to handle pressure situations and deliver results in difficult conditions, suggesting that this mentality could help steady the national team in a tournament where margins are expected to be fine.

“It’s very important to have players in the squad that are used to play on another level than PSL,” Broos said, as quoted by journalist Mahlatse Mphahlele.

“I think with the players of Sundowns, they are a little bit used to play very important games with a lot of pressure. Certainly, for Sundowns, they always have the ambition to win that CAF Champions League.

“So, it’s very important to have those players and also because there’s most of them in the squad. So, they can also affect other players in the attitude, the way of training and this is very important.”

Broos added that the World Cup represents a step up even from the Africa Cup of Nations, noting the intensity of competing against some of the world’s strongest sides in front of massive crowds.

“This is a tournament on a higher level, you can’t even compare it with AFCON,” he said. “You play against teams who are, let’s say, the 48 best teams of the world… and you need to do more than what you’ve been doing in the past.”

He also praised Burnley forward Lyle Foster for bringing valuable top-level European experience to the squad.

“I’m happy that we have that experience here and Foster, who plays in the Premier League… he has experience of playing high-level football,” Broos added.

South Africa have been drawn in Group A of the tournament, where they will face South Korea, Mexico and the Czech Republic in what promises to be a demanding test of their credentials on the world stage.