Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos is on the brink of joining an exclusive club of footballers who have participated in the FIFA World Cup both as players and coaches.
This comes after South Africa’s successful qualification for FIFA World Cup 2026.
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Next year’s tournament, set to take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, marks the first time Bafana Bafana will return to the global stage since 2010 – when South Africa hosted the event.
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The achievement is being hailed as a comeback for the team, which has long battled to reclaim its international standing.
“It’s an incredible opportunity for me and the team,” said Broos.
“The journey to the World Cup has been challenging, but qualifying is a testament to our hard work and resilience.”
Set a record
As a former Belgian international defender, he represented his country at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, a tournament where Belgium reached the semi-finals.
Now, 40 years later, he will return to a World Cup – this time as the coach of another national side.
Meanwhile, Broos will also set another record: The oldest coach to have ever managed a side at a World Cup.
Broos will be 74 years and 62 days old when FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off.
The current record is held by Germany’s Otto Rehhagel who coached Greece at the 2010 World Cup when he was 72 years and 317 days old.
A Rare Double: Player and Coach at the World Cup
If Broos takes his place on the sidelines in 2026, he will join a select group of football legends who have achieved this rare double.
Here are five notable figures who have walked the same path:
- Henri Michel (France) – Played at the 1978 World Cup and later coached France to a third-place finish in 1986
- Mário Zagallo (Brazil) – Won World Cups as a player in 1958 and 1962, and coached the legendary 1970 Brazilian side to another title
- Franz Beckenbauer (West Germany) – Lifted the trophy as a player in 1974 and again as a coach in 1990
- Alf Ramsey (England) – Played in 1950 and later led England to their only World Cup win in 1966
- Didier Deschamps (France) – Captained France to glory in 1998, and coached them to their second World Cup title in 2018
Bafana’s Big Moment
Hugo Broos has built a squad that blends seasoned professionals with young talent, and there’s growing belief that Bafana Bafana could progress beyond the group stage for the first time since 1998.
Supporters are hopeful that Broos’s experience and tactical acumen will provide the edge South Africa needs to compete on the biggest stage in football.
As the countdown to June 2026 begins, Bafana Bafana’s qualification is already being celebrated as a victory for national pride – and a chance to rewrite the team’s story on the world stage.
The opening match of FIFA World Cup 2026 will take place on 11 June in Mexico City, with the final on 19 July in New Jersey.
