Mbekezeli Mbokazi ruled out for MLS season with thigh injury

Bafana Bafana defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi will miss the rest of the 2026 Major League Soccer season after suffering a thigh tear, Chicago Fire FC head coach Gregg Berhalter has confirmed.

The injury is a blow for South Africa as they prepare for their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, with the 20-year-old having become one of the country’s most important defenders during their historic FIFA World Cup run.

Mbokazi played every minute of the tournament as Bafana Bafana reached the World Cup knockout stages for the first time. His composed performances against some of the world’s leading nations enhanced his reputation as one of South Africa’s most promising young players.

The former Orlando Pirates academy graduate sustained the injury soon after returning to club duty following the tournament.

Berhalter confirmed the extent of the problem before Chicago Fire FC’s Leagues Cup match against Necaxa, making it clear that Mbokazi would not play again this season.

“Mbo being out for the year is a tough one,” Berhalter told Apple TV.

“It’s really about the next person stepping up and being a team that’s hard to score on. Closing the spaces, being compact.”

The injury brings an early end to an impressive first campaign in MLS for Mbokazi.

He quickly adapted to football in the United States and started all 12 of his regular-season appearances for Chicago Fire FC. His performances established him as a central part of the club’s defensive structure and made him one of the team’s standout players.

Supporters also recognised his impact. Mbokazi received the most fan votes for the 2026 MLS All-Star Game, but the injury has ruled him out of the event.

His absence is likely to concern Bafana Bafana as they begin preparations for their next AFCON qualifying campaign. Mbokazi’s emergence had given South Africa greater stability at centre-back, particularly after he helped anchor a defence that competed successfully against some of the strongest teams at the FIFA World Cup.

South Africa head coach Hugo Broos will now have to consider his options in Mbokazi’s absence as the team prepares for another important qualification campaign.

The immediate priority, however, will be the defender’s recovery. At only 20, Mbokazi has already shown that he can perform at the highest level, and his displays during 2026 have placed him among South Africa’s most exciting young footballers.

Chicago Fire FC must now find a way to replace one of their most influential performers for the remainder of the season. Bafana Bafana, meanwhile, will hope Mbokazi can recover fully and resume his rapid progress on the international stage.