Bafana Bafana’s final World Cup send-off match confirmed

Soweto’s iconic Orlando Amstel Arena will serve as the battleground for Bafana Bafana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup send-off match against Central American side Nicaragua at the end of the month.

The high-profile international friendly is scheduled for Friday, 29 May 2026, with kick-off locked in for 18:00.

The clash will give local football fans one final opportunity to watch coach Hugo Broos’ charges on home soil before the squad flies out to Mexico. The global showpiece, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, will run from 11 June to 19 July 2026.

Broos’ troops face a demanding task in North America, having been drawn into a tricky Group A alongside co-hosts Mexico, the Republic of Korea, and the Czech Republic.

Orlando to Host Bafana Bafana’s World Cup Send-Off Against Nicaragua

In a poetic echo of the historic 2010 World Cup on South African soil, South Africa will once again feature in the tournament’s opening match against Mexico on Thursday, 11 June. Broos’ men will then shift focus to Czechia on Thursday, 18 June, before wrapping up their gruelling group-stage campaign against South Korea on Thursday, 25 June.

The South African Football Association (SAFA) previously confirmed that the national team will set up their World Cup base camp in Pachuca, Mexico. The team will utilise the training facilities at the Universidad del Fútbol, with the squad housed at the nearby Camino Real Pachuca hotel.

SAFA president Dr Danny Jordaan has called on the nation to turn up in droves to give the team a roaring departure.

“We encourage families and fans to come in their numbers to support the team,” said Jordaan. “The players will appreciate the support before heading to the FIFA World Cup.”