United States-based media outlet FOX Sports has placed South Africa’s Bafana Bafana among the lowest-ranked teams heading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
For the first time in history, the tournament will feature 48 nations and will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
In its comprehensive ranking of all participating teams from 1 to 48, FOX Sports positioned Hugo Broos’ side in 45th place, with only Haiti (48th), Curaçao (47th), and Panama (46th) ranked lower.
The assessment effectively makes Bafana Bafana the lowest-ranked African team in the tournament according to the publication, despite Cape Verde appearing below South Africa in the latest FIFA world rankings.
FOX Sports singled out forward Lyle Foster as South Africa’s standout player while suggesting the team could still make an impact in their opening fixture.
The broadcaster noted that the squad would “need a bigger vuvuzela” to make a real statement at the global showpiece.
Bafana Bafana have been drawn in Group A alongside Mexico, South Korea, and the Czech Republic. They will kick off their campaign against hosts Mexico on 11 June in Mexico City.
At the top end of the rankings, FOX Sports placed defending powerhouses France as favourites, followed by Spain in second and England in third.
AFCON 2025: Fixtures, Results, Scores and Standings Jan 18, 2026
