The South Africa men's national football has played at the FIFA World Cup on four occasions, in 1998, 2002, as hosts in 2010, and in 2026 in North America.
South Africa did not make it past the first round until 2026. The team's first attempt to qualify was for the 1994 FIFA World Cup, where they finished second in their group behind Nigeria. Their first appearance was in 1998, six years after they had been readmitted to the global football family. The team finished third in the group stage in both 1998 and 2002 World Cups. The team failed to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup after finishing third in their qualifying group. During the 2010 World Cup on their home soil, they beat France 2–1 and drew 1–1 to Mexico, but lost 0–3 to Uruguay. They lost out on progression to the round of 16, on goal difference, becoming the first World Cup host nation to fail to advance past the group stage, a feat repeated by Qatar in 2022.
FIFA World Cup record
FIFA World Cup recordYearRoundPosition* 1930Did not enter 1934 1938 1950 1954 1958 1962 1966Not admitted 1970Banned 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994Did not qualify 1998Group stage24th302136 200217th311155 2006Did not qualify 2010Group stage20th311135 2014Did not qualify 2018 2022 2026 Round of 32 25th 4 1 1 2 2 4 2030 To be determined 2034TotalRound of 324/23133551320 *Denotes draws including knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out. **Red border colour indicates tournament was held on home soil.
South Africa's World Cup recordFirst Match 3–0 (12 June 1998; Marseille, France)Biggest Win 1–0 (8 June 2002; Daegu, South Korea) 1–2 (22 June 2010; Bloemfontein, South Africa) 1–0 (24 June 2026; Guadalupe, Mexico)Biggest Defeat 3–0 (12 June 1998; Marseille, France) 0–3 (16 June 2010; Pretoria, South Africa)Best Result Round of 32 in 2026Worst Result Group stage in 1998, 2002 and 2010
Head-to-head record OpponentWin %Total
France 1998
Head coach: Philippe Troussier
Andre Arendse (#22) was injured before the start of the tournament. His replacement, Paul Evans, was also injured shortly after arriving as a replacement. Simon Gopane was then called up, and sat on the bench for the last two matches.
France vs South Africa
GK 16Fabien BarthezRB 15Lilian ThuramCB 8 Marcel DesaillyCB 5 Laurent BlancLB 3 Bixente LizarazuCM 7 Didier Deschamps (c) CM 17Emmanuel Petit RW 6 Youri Djorkaeff AM 10Zinedine Zidane LW 12Thierry HenryCF 9 Stéphane Guivarc'h Substitutions:FW 21Christophe Dugarry MF 14Alain Boghossian FW 20David Trezeguet Manager:Aimé Jacquet
GK 1 Hans VonkDF 3 David NyathiDF 4 Willem Jackson DF 5 Mark FishDF 19Lucas Radebe (c)DF 21Pierre IssaMF 7 Quinton FortuneMF 10John MoshoeuFW 6 Phil MasingaFW 12Brendan Augustine FW 17Benni McCarthy Substitutions:MF 11Helman Mkhalele FW 9 Shaun Bartlett Manager: Philippe Troussier
Assistant referees: Arnaldo Pinto (Brazil) Merere Gonzales (Trinidad and Tobago) Fourth official: Mario Sánchez Yanten (Chile)
South Africa vs Denmark Benni McCarthy scored South Africa's first ever goal in the World Cup when he received the ball on the edge of the penalty box before shooting low left footed through the legs of Peter Schmeichel to level the match.
GK 1 Hans VonkDF 3 David Nyathi DF 5 Mark FishDF 19Lucas Radebe (c) DF 21Pierre Issa MF 7 Quinton FortuneMF 10John MoshoeuMF 11Helman MkhaleleFW 9 Shaun Bartlett FW 12Brendan Augustine FW 17Benni McCarthySubstitutions:MF 8 Alfred Phiri FW 6 Phil Masinga FW 13Delron Buckley Manager: Philippe Troussier
GK 1 Peter Schmeichel DF 2 Michael Schjønberg DF 3 Marc RieperDF 4 Jes Høgh DF 6 Thomas HelvegDF 12Søren ColdingMF 7 Allan NielsenMF 10Michael Laudrup (c) MF 21Martin JørgensenFW 11Brian LaudrupFW 19Ebbe Sand Substitutions:DF 5 Jan Heintze FW 9 Miklos Molnar MF 14Morten Wieghorst Manager: Bo Johansson
Assistant referees: Jorge Luis Arango (Colombia) Celestino Galván (Paraguay) Fourth official: Epifanio González (Paraguay)
South Africa vs Saudi Arabia
GK 1 Hans VonkDF 3 David NyathiDF 4 Willem Jackson DF 5 Mark FishDF 19Lucas Radebe (c) DF 21Pierre IssaMF 7 Quinton Fortune MF 10John MoshoeuMF 11Helman MkhaleleFW 9 Shaun BartlettFW 17Benni McCarthy Substitutions:FW 13Delron Buckley FW 14Jerry Sikhosana MF 15Doctor Khumalo Manager: Philippe Troussier
GK 1 Mohamed Al-DeayeaDF 2 Mohammed Al-JahaniDF 4 Abdullah ZubromawiDF 13Hussein SulaimaniMF 6 Fuad Amin (c)MF 16Khamis Al-Owairan MF 18Nawaf Al-TemyatMF 20Hamzah SalehFW 9 Sami Al-JaberFW 11Fahad Al-Mehallel FW 15Yousuf Al-Thunayan Substitutions:MF 7 Ibrahim Al-Shahrani MF 12Ibrahim Al-Harbi Manager:Mohammed Al-Kharashy
Assistant referees: Owen Powell (Jamaica) Eddie Foley (Ireland) Fourth official: Alberto Tejada Noriega (Peru)
Korea/Japan 2002
Head coach: Jomo Sono
Paraguay vs South Africa
GK 22Ricardo Tavarelli CB 18Julio César Cáceres CB 5 Celso AyalaCB 4 Carlos Gamarra (c)RWB2 Francisco ArceLWB21Denis Caniza CM 10Roberto Miguel AcuñaCM 6 Estanislao Struway CM 8 Guido Alvarenga AM 11Jorge Campos CF 9 Roque Santa CruzSubstitutions:MF 14Diego Gavilán MF 16Gustavo Morínigo DF 17Juan Carlos Franco Manager: Cesare Maldini GK 16Andre ArendseRB 4 Aaron Mokoena CB 13Pierre Issa CB 19Lucas Radebe (c)LB 3 Bradley CarnellRM 2 Cyril NzamaCM 12Teboho MokoenaCM 6 MacBeth SibayaLM 7 Quinton FortuneCF 17Benni McCarthy CF 15Sibusiso Zuma Substitutions:MF 9 MacDonald Mukasi FW 23George Koumantarakis Manager:Jomo Sono Man of the Match: Francisco Arce (Paraguay)
Assistant referees: Igor Šramka (Slovakia) Curtis Charles (Antigua and Barbuda) Fourth official: Hugh Dallas (Scotland)
South Africa vs Slovenia Siyabonga Nomvethe scored the only goal of the game, in the fourth minute. A free kick from Quinton Fortune on the left came to Nomvethe and although he mistimed his header, the ball cannoned into the net off his thigh.
GK 16Andre ArendseRB 2 Cyril NzamaCB 4 Aaron MokoenaCB 19Lucas Radebe (c) LB 3 Bradley CarnellRM 15Sibusiso ZumaCM 6 MacBeth SibayaCM 12Teboho MokoenaLM 7 Quinton Fortune CF 14Siyabonga Nomvethe CF 17Benni McCarthy Substitutions:MF 18Delron Buckley FW 23George Koumantarakis MF 11Jabu Pule Manager:Jomo Sono GK 1 Marko SimeunovičCB 3 Željko Milinovič CB 4 Muamer Vugdalič CB 6 Aleksander Knavs RM 7 Đoni NovakCM 11Miran Pavlin CM 8 Aleš Čeh (c) LM 19Amir KarićAM 18Milenko Ačimovič CF 21Sebastjan Cimirotič CF 13Mladen RudonjaSubstitutions:FW 9 Milan Osterc MF 20Nastja Čeh DF 22Spasoje Bulajič Manager:Srečko Katanec Man of the Match: Quinton Fortune (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Jorge Rattalino (Argentina) Ali Al Traifi (Saudi Arabia) Fourth official: Jan Wegereef (Netherlands)
South Africa vs Spain
GK 16Andre ArendseRB 2 Cyril Nzama CB 4 Aaron Mokoena CB 19Lucas Radebe (c) LB 3 Bradley Carnell RM 15Sibusiso ZumaCM 6 MacBeth SibayaCM 12Teboho MokoenaLM 7 Quinton Fortune CF 17Benni McCarthyCF 14Siyabonga Nomvethe Substitutions:FW 23George Koumantarakis DF 22Thabang Molefe DF 5 Jacob Lekgetho Manager:Jomo Sono GK 1 Iker CasillasRB 2 Curro TorresCB 4 Iván HelgueraCB 20Miguel Ángel Nadal (c)LB 15Enrique RomeroRM 22JoaquínCM 19XaviCM 14David Albelda LM 16Gaizka MendietaCF 7 Raúl CF 9 Fernando Morientes Substitutions:MF 18Sergio FW 12Albert Luque MF 21Luis Enrique Manager:José Antonio Camacho Man of the Match: Raúl (Spain)
Assistant referees: Jorge Rattalino (Argentina) Awni Hassouneh (Jordan) Fourth official: Mohamed Guezzaz (Morocco)
South Africa 2010
Coach: Carlos Alberto Parreira
South Africa vs Mexico South Africa vs Mexico was the opening match of the World Cup, held on 11 June 2010. It was described as an "enthralling" and "pulsating" match. South Africa opened the scoring in the 55th minute after Siphiwe Tshabalala scored off a pass through Mexico's defence by Teko Modise. Mexico's captain Rafael Márquez equalised following a corner kick in the 79th minute. In the final minutes of the match, Katlego Mphela almost scored a winning goal for South Africa, but his shot bounced off the post.
Tshabalala was named as the man of the match. South Africa's coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira called the result "fair", while Mexico's coach Javier Aguirre stated "we could have won, we could have lost".
GK 16Itumeleng KhuneRB 2 Siboniso GaxaCB 4 Aaron Mokoena (c)CB 20Bongani KhumaloLB 15Lucas Thwala RM 8 Siphiwe TshabalalaCM 13Kagisho Dikgacoi CM 12Reneilwe LetsholonyaneLW 11Teko ModiseSS 10Steven Pienaar CF 9 Katlego MphelaSubstitutions:DF 3 Tsepo Masilela FW 17Bernard Parker Manager: Carlos Alberto Parreira GK 1 Óscar PérezRB 12Paul Aguilar CB 5 Ricardo OsorioCB 2 Francisco Javier RodríguezLB 3 Carlos SalcidoDM 4 Rafael MárquezCM 16Efraín Juárez CM 6 Gerardo Torrado (c) RW 17Giovani dos SantosLW 11Carlos Vela CF 9 Guillermo Franco Substitutions:MF 18Andrés Guardado FW 10Cuauhtémoc Blanco FW 14Javier Hernández Manager:Javier Aguirre
Man of the Match: Siphiwe Tshabalala (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Rafael Ilyasov (Uzbekistan) Bakhadyr Kochkarov (Kyrgyzstan) Fourth official: Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh (Malaysia) Fifth official: Mu Yuxin (China)
South Africa vs Uruguay
GK 16Itumeleng Khune RB 2 Siboniso GaxaCB 4 Aaron Mokoena (c)CB 20Bongani KhumaloLB 3 Tsepo MasilelaRM 8 Siphiwe TshabalalaCM 13Kagisho Dikgacoi CM 12Reneilwe Letsholonyane LW 11Teko ModiseSS 10Steven Pienaar CF 9 Katlego MphelaSubstitutions:MF 19Surprise Moriri GK 1 Moeneeb Josephs Manager: Carlos Alberto Parreira GK 1 Fernando MusleraRB 16Maxi PereiraCB 2 Diego Lugano (c)CB 3 Diego GodínLB 4 Jorge Fucile DM 15Diego Pérez RM 17Egidio Arévalo RíosLM 11Álvaro PereiraAM 10Diego ForlánCF 9 Luis SuárezCF 7 Edinson Cavani Substitutions:MF 20Álvaro Fernández FW 21Sebastián Fernández MF 5 Walter Gargano Manager:Óscar Tabárez Man of the Match: Diego Forlán (Uruguay)
Assistant referees: Matthias Arnet (Switzerland) Francesco Buragina (Switzerland) Fourth official: Wolfgang Stark (Germany) Fifth official: Jan-Hendrik Salver (Germany)
France vs South Africa Two teams have met three times but recently in the 1998 FIFA World Cup won by France 30.
Bongani Khumalo scored the first goal to make it 10 in 25th minute Yoann Gourcuff was shown a red card after a serious foul, Katlego Mphela made it 20 in half-time, South Africa made several chances in second half, Hugo Lloris saved Katlego Mphela's shot to make a third goal, Bacary Sagna made a back pass to the French player Florent Malouda scored a goal to make it 21 from an assist by Franck Ribéry, South Africa made even more chances in second half, 2-1 was the final score of the match. France were eliminated from the World Cup with a single point in the Group stage.
Although South Africa became the first host nation to exit the World Cup group stage in history.
GK 1 Hugo LlorisRB 2 Bacary SagnaCB 5 William GallasCB 17Sébastien SquillaciLB 22Gaël ClichyCM 18Alou Diarra (c) CM 19Abou Diaby RW 11André-Pierre Gignac AM 8 Yoann Gourcuff LW 7 Franck RibéryCF 9 Djibril Cissé Substitutions:MF 15Florent Malouda FW 12Thierry Henry FW 10Sidney Govou Manager:Raymond Domenech GK 1 Moeneeb JosephsRB 5 Anele Ngcongca CB 4 Aaron Mokoena (c)CB 20Bongani KhumaloLB 3 Tsepo MasilelaCM 6 MacBeth SibayaCM 23Thanduyise Khuboni RW 10Steven PienaarLW 8 Siphiwe TshabalalaCF 9 Katlego MphelaCF 17Bernard Parker Substitutions:DF 2 Siboniso Gaxa FW 18Siyabonga Nomvethe MF 11Teko Modise Manager: Carlos Alberto Parreira Man of the Match: Katlego Mphela (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Abraham González (Colombia) Humberto Clavijo (Colombia) Fourth official: Héctor Baldassi (Argentina) Fifth official: Ricardo Casas (Argentina)
Canada/Mexico/United States 2026
Group A
Knockout stage
Round of 32
Player records Most appearances
RankPlayerMatchesWorld Cups1Quinton Fortune61998 and 2002Benni McCarthy61998 and 2002Lucas Radebe61998 and 2002Aaron Mokoena62002 and 20104Oswin Appollis42026Pierre Issa41998 and 2002Evidence Makgopa42026Thalente Mbatha42026Mbekezeli Mbokazi42026Aubrey Modiba42026Khuliso Mudau42026Ime Okon42026Iqraam Rayners42026MacBeth Sibaya42002 and 2010Ronwen Williams42026
Goalscorers