The FIFA World Cup is the world’s biggest football competition, and the 23rd edition brings several major changes, including a new format and a scale that’ll span an entire continent.
Back in South Africa, fans are feeling the significance of this tournament. It’s the first time Bafana Bafana will walk onto the grand stage since 2010, and this time, they earned their place.
From first-time viewers to those who’ve backed SA since day one on platforms like 10bet, the details about World Cup 2026 matter right now. That’s why this guide will dive deeper into what lies ahead, including what awaits Bafana Bafana.
First World Cup Held Across Three Nations
Sharing hosting duties isn’t exactly a new thing for the biggest international football tournament. 2002 saw the WC held by both Japan and South Korea, marking the first time in the competition’s history that this had happened.
The 23rd edition brings another novelty. This time, the competition will be co-hosted by three nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
With this unprecedented geographical spread, the pinnacle of football will stretch across an entire continent, with 16 world-class stadiums hosting matches. It’s also the first men’s World Cup taking place in North America since 1994.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off in Mexico on Thursday, June 11. The opening match between Mexico (now co-host) and South Africa, a repeat of the 2010 opener, will be held at the fabled Estadio Azteca (Mexico City Stadium). Meanwhile, the final is set for Sunday, July 19, and will be played at the New York/New Jersey Stadium.
A New Era: The 48-Team Format Explained
Having three host countries isn’t the only unique feature of this year’s top football tournament. The 23rd World Cup will also be the first one with 48 teams, 16 more than the 22nd edition.
FIFA’s decision to expand from the traditional 32-team structure, first introduced in 1998 in France and used for seven consecutive tournaments, will see more nations showcasing their quality. The new setup benefited Africa the most, as nine nations secured their spots.
With this new structure, there’ll now be 12 groups of four teams. The top two from each one, and the eight best third-placed finishers, will advance to the newly devised Round of 32.
The new 48-team format increases the total number of matches to 104. For fans of World Cup betting, this means plenty of opportunities to support Bafana Bafana, root for other underdogs, or just enjoy the best football the world’s top competition has to offer.
Bafana Bafana’s Ticket to World Cup 2026
In 2010, South Africa qualified automatically as hosts. This time around, securing a spot in the tournament meant navigating a difficult qualifying campaign.
Fortunately, Bafana Bafana came through. Even more impressive, they did so against formidable opponents, demonstrating they’re more than ready. That’s exactly what makes fans across South Africa excited to see what’s to come when the national squad steps out onto North American pitches.
CAF’s structure featured 53 nations in eight groups of six teams and one group of five after Eritrea dropped out. While each group winner automatically earned a spot, South Africa’s road to WC 2026 was an intense one.
Led by Hugo Broos, the squad steered a difficult Group C, where the decisive moment came when they faced off against Rwanda.
Fortunately, Broos’s side managed to overcome the hurdles, walking away with a 3:0 victory and joining the already-qualified Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Ghana, and Cabo Verde.
South Africa’s Group Stage
If the qualifying stage wasn’t intense enough for you, the challenge only gets tougher. South Africa landed in Group A after a nail-biting draw, so they’ll have to go against Mexico, Czechia, and South Korea.
The squad’s first chance to show what they’ve got will be on June 11. The repeat of the 19th WC’s opening match will also be the first clash of the tournament, and will allow the boys to test themselves against the tournament’s co-host.
From there, Bafana Bafana will travel to the Atlanta Stadium in the US to face Czechia on June 18. Meanwhile, a clash against South Korea on June 24 at the Monterrey Stadium back in Guadalupe, Mexico, will end the group stage.
South African football fans can do more than just watch the action unfold on North American pitches. Platforms like 10bet will have World Cup betting markets live from the first whistle, allowing supporters to follow every Bafana Bafana clash with something extra on the line.
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