Bafana Bafana Ascends in FIFA Rankings After Historic World Cup Run
South Africa’s national football team, Bafana Bafana, has climbed six places to 54th in the latest FIFA world rankings. This jump follows a historic 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, where the squad reached the knockout stages for the first time in history, securing their highest position in more than a decade. The updated rankings were released this week following the conclusion of the tournament.
Tournament Performance and the Path to 54th
Bafana Bafana’s run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup was defined by resilience after a difficult start. The team entered the tournament ranked 60th in the world and 12th in Africa. Their opening match resulted in a 2-0 defeat at the hands of co-hosts Mexico, which did little to boost their standing. However, the squad recovered in their second group match against Czechia. In that encounter, persistent play by Thapelo Maseko earned South Africa a penalty kick, which Teboho Mokoena converted to secure a hard-earned 1-1 draw. This result provided the team with valuable ranking points.
The team then secured a crucial victory over then-26th-ranked South Korea in the final Group A match. The 1-0 win was secured with a goal from Maseko deep in the second half. This slender victory saw the team rewrite history as they qualified for the knockout round for the first time ever. Although South Africa was eventually edged 1-0 by co-hosts Canada in the Round of 32 at the Los Angeles Stadium, they retained their new position as the teams immediately below them failed to collect enough points to overtake them.
This achievement marks the highest ranking Bafana has reached in the five years since Hugo Broos first took over the reins in 2021. While the team remains outside the top 50, the progress reflects a campaign that saw the squad navigate a challenging group stage, with South Africa being one of eight African nations to reach the knockout stages of the World Cup.
Strategic Implications and Future Outlook
The failure to crack the top 50 has broader consequences for the team, as a victory over Canada would have lifted Bafana into FIFA’s top 50 rankings for the first time in years. Breaking into the top 50 could have brought long-term benefits beyond the national team. Under the English Premier League’s Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) system, players from higher-ranked nations generally have an easier pathway to securing work permits, potentially making it easier for South African footballers to earn direct moves to Premier League clubs.
Looking ahead, the team has immediate opportunities to continue their climb. Bafana Bafana will next be in action in September when they face Guinea and Eritrea in Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. These matches will serve as the next benchmark for the squad’s consistency as they attempt to improve their rankings.
Continental and Global Context
The global landscape of the rankings has also shifted significantly following the tournament. World champions Spain are now the highest-ranked nation after dethroning Argentina. Within the African continent, Morocco leads the way, having reached their highest position ever at sixth in the world after making the quarter-finals in North America.
The current standing of the top 10 African sides is as follows:
- Morocco (6th in the world)
- Senegal (18th in the world)
- Egypt (24th in the world)
- Nigeria (26th in the world)
- Algeria (29th in the world)
- Ivory Coast (31st in the world)
- DR Congo (41st in the world)
- Cameroon (43rd in the world)
- Mali (53rd in the world)
- South Africa (54th in the world)
As the team prepares for the upcoming AFCON qualifiers, uncertainty remains regarding the long-term leadership of the squad. It remains to be seen who will be in charge of the team by then, with Hugo Broos likely to step down as head coach.
Sources: ENCA, The South African.
Related reading
Discover more from Archyworldys
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.