World Cup 2026: Benni McCarthy backs South Africa to match up Czech Republic and South Korea

Former South Africa striker and current Kenya coach Benni McCarthy is confident Bafana Bafana can recover from their opening setback at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and compete strongly in their remaining Group A matches against Czech and South Korea.

Hugo Broos’ side began their campaign with a 2-0 defeat to hosts Mexico, leaving them under pressure heading into a crucial second fixture against Czech in Atlanta, before wrapping up their group stage against South Korea.

McCarthy, South Africa’s all-time leading scorer with 29 international goals, believes the squad has enough physical strength and competitive edge to match their opponents if they apply themselves correctly.

Speaking on SportyTV, as reported by Pulse Sports Kenya, McCarthy pointed to the team’s defensive structure as a key asset in handling the demands of World Cup football.

“Physically, we have presence. Every defender in that team is a good unit. You need to match the physicality of European and South American teams,” he said.

He also reserved special praise for young defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi, highlighting his toughness and mentality despite not being the most physically imposing player.

“I think Mbokazi is probably the only defender that’s a decent size, but he’s got the heart of a lion,” McCarthy added.

McCarthy further insisted that Bafana Bafana are capable of going toe-to-toe with Czechia and also challenging South Korea if they perform to their potential.

“Overall, I like the squad. I think they’re solid. Physically, we can go pound-for-pound with Czech, and we can cause problems in this group,” he said.

Bafana Bafana face Czech on Thursday evening at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta at 6pm South African time, in a match that could prove decisive for their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages.