South Africa coach Hugo Broos 70% sure of 2026 World Cup squad

South Africa head coach Hugo Broos says he is already well on the way to finalising his squad for the upcoming World Cup, revealing that about 70 percent of his selection is already made, with only a handful of spots still up for grabs.

Speaking ahead of tonight’s international friendly against Panama at Cape Town Stadium, the Belgian tactician emphasized that much of his planning is already in place, even as he continues to assess player form and fitness in the months leading up to the tournament.

“I think, first of all, let’s say 70% of the selection is already in my head,” Broos said. “Everything depends a little bit on the form of the players. Maybe in the next three months, they won’t play for their teams or could suffer injuries… those kinds of things.”

While the majority of his squad appears settled, Broos noted that he is still evaluating certain positions before making his final call. However, he was clear that his core group is unlikely to change.

“Maybe 75% of the 23 or 25 players are already decided in my mind, and I will not change that. Not even tomorrow, even if we play a bad game,” he added. “But there are still positions that I want to assess in the next few weeks before I make my final decision.”

The Bafana coach also highlighted the importance of consistency in the build-up to the World Cup, urging his players to maintain the level of performance they showed in their previous outing, a 1-1 draw against Panama last Friday at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

“On the other hand, we played a very good game on Friday, and let’s hope we can confirm that again on Tuesday,” Broos said.

Looking ahead, Broos confirmed plans for a dedicated preparation camp just before the tournament, where final tactical adjustments and squad cohesion will be prioritised.

“That’s why we will have a 10-day preparation camp just before the World Cup, where we will focus on those details and aim to be more ready than we are now,” he explained.

As Bafana Bafana continue their preparations, tonight’s friendly against Panama offers another opportunity for players on the fringe to impress and stake their claim for a coveted spot in Broos’ final World Cup squad.