President Cyril Ramaphosa will tonight host the official FIFA World Cup 2026 send-off dinner for Bafana Bafana at the Sefako M. Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria.
The gala marks the formal farewell to South Africa’s senior men’s national football team ahead of their departure to the global showpiece, co-hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
Held under the theme “United by Hope, Driven by Pride,” the dinner brings the nation’s leadership, football fraternity, and invited guests together in a moment of collective celebration, capturing the spirit of millions of South Africans rallying behind a squad that has carried the country’s footballing hopes back onto the world stage after a 16-year absence.
A Presidential Salute to the Nation’s Footballers
The ceremony begins at 19h00, with President Ramaphosa joined by:
- Mr Gayton McKenzie, Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
- Dr Danny Jordaan, President of the South African Football Association (SAFA)
- Members of the Bafana Bafana technical team
- The players
- Invited guests drawn from across the football, business, and public sectors
The FIFA World Cup 2026 squad reveal
The evening’s centrepiece will be the formal announcement of the final 26-man squad by Head Coach Hugo Broos.
The Belgian tactician’s calm, methodical leadership has steered Bafana Bafana back to football’s most prestigious tournament and his squad reveal is one of the most anticipated football moments in recent South African memory.
Supporters across the country will be watching closely to see which players carry the green and gold into the world’s first 48-team World Cup.
More than a ceremony
By hosting the dinner at the Presidential Guesthouse, the country’s leadership is offering more than a ceremonial farewell.
It is a public affirmation that Bafana Bafana’s journey is the nation’s journey, a recognition that sport, perhaps more than any other arena, has the power to unify South Africans across language, geography, and generation.
Related: Bafana Fridays Return as South Africa Rallies Behind Bafana Bafana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup Campaign
The Road Back: A 16-Year Wait Ends
The last time South Africa appeared at a FIFA World Cup was in 2010, when the country famously hosted the tournament and gifted the world the unforgettable sound of vuvuzelas, the rhythm of Diski Dance, and the warmth of a continent welcoming football’s biggest stage for the first time.
The decisive night in Nelspruit
Qualification for 2026 was secured on 14 October 2025, when Bafana Bafana defeated Rwanda 3–0 at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
Goals from:
- Thalente Mbatha (4′)
- Oswin Appollis (25′)
- Evidence Makgopa (72′)
…booked the country’s ticket and triggered nationwide celebrations from Cape Town to Polokwane.
The result allowed South Africa to top CAF Group C on 18 points, edging out a fiercely competitive field that included Nigeria and Benin in one of the tightest qualifying sections on the continent.
A team finding its identity
Under Hugo Broos, already a CAF Africa Cup of Nations-winning coach with Cameroon in 2017; Bafana Bafana have grown into a team defined by tactical discipline, attacking intent, and a renewed sense of identity.
Their 2023 AFCON campaign in Côte d’Ivoire, where they finished third after a memorable run, signalled a turning point. The World Cup qualification campaign confirmed it.
A Nation Behind the Boys
For South Africans, this World Cup appearance is more than a sporting milestone.
It is a powerful symbol of resilience, renewal, and possibility at a moment when the country is hungry for stories that unite rather than divide.
Excitement is building
Across the country:
- Supporters’ groups are mobilising
- Fan parks are being planned in major cities
- Branded merchandise is moving fast through retailers
- Conversations in workplaces, schools, and townships are increasingly turning to one question — how far can Bafana go?
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, under Minister Gayton McKenzie, has been vocal in its support of the squad, while SAFA’s leadership has worked alongside the technical team to ensure that the players arrive at the tournament fully prepared.
The presidential send-off underscores that this is a national project — one in which government, the football federation, the private sector, and ordinary South Africans all have a stake.
A Tournament Like No Other
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be:
- The first ever to feature 48 nations
- The first to be co-hosted by three countries — Mexico, the United States, and Canada
For Bafana Bafana, the expanded format presents a genuine opportunity to make a meaningful impression on the global stage — and to inspire a new generation of South African footballers.
As President Ramaphosa welcomes the squad tonight, the message from the highest office in the land is clear:
South Africa stands as one behind Bafana Bafana. United by hope. Driven by pride. And ready to cheer the boys all the way.
