Their Belgian coach Hugo Broos is a straight-shooter and speaks his mind, telling the media this week of his expectations for the team at the global finals after naming his 26-player squad.
After Mexico, South Africa also meet the Czech Republic in Atalanta on June 18 and South Korea in Monterrey on June 24.
How do you feel now that the final 26-man World Cup squad has been announced?
I feel relieved, excited and confident. The last two weeks were stressful because we had some very difficult decisions to make. We spent a lot of time discussing every position and every player.
Now the decisions have been made, I believe they are the right ones and I am excited because we are going to the World Cup. It is the biggest tournament in football and South Africa has waited a long time to return to this stage.
I am confident in the quality of this squad and believe we can achieve good results. It will not be easy, but there are no huge favourites in our group. If we can get three points as quickly as possible, I believe we have a very good chance of progressing to the knockout stages.
For South African football, it is an opportunity to make history.
How difficult was the final selection process?
Very difficult and very emotional. I told the players that I had to make decisions with my head and not my heart. If I followed my heart, we would have taken more than 26 players.
We spoke individually with every player who did not make the final squad. Those conversations are never pleasant, but they are part of football. Every decision was made with the team’s interests in mind.
Ultimately, a coach is judged by results. Right now, I believe these are the correct choices and we will see after the tournament whether that proves to be the case.
Are the players mentally ready for the World Cup so soon after the domestic season?
Not all of them yet, especially the Mamelodi Sundowns players. They have just won the CAF Champions League and have gone through an emotional period. They deserve the opportunity to celebrate and recover, particularly mentally.
That is why they were not immediately thrown back into action. After a short break and our final preparations, I believe there will be enough time for everybody to focus fully on the World Cup.
Were you satisfied with the quality of opposition arranged for the preparation matches against Nicaragua and Jamaica?
Ideally, we would have liked to play European or Asian teams, but many factors influence those decisions.
There are scheduling challenges, travel considerations and financial realities. Some potential opponents were not available at the right time, while others were simply too expensive.
What matters most to me is that we play competitive matches. Jamaica, for example, is a good opponent and will provide a useful test. Playing one match against a European team would not necessarily teach us everything we need to know.
The important thing is to play quality opposition and continue improving.
What factors are most important when selecting a World Cup squad?
You need balance. You look at form, experience, physical attributes and how players fit into the group. Integration is also important.
For example, sometimes you may have two players of similar quality, but one has spent more time with the national team and understands the environment better.
We also looked carefully at the physical profile of the squad because some of our opponents are very strong and tall. You have to consider all these elements when building a team for a major tournament. I believe we have found the right balance.
How important is it that so many players arrive after winning trophies?
It is very important. We have players from the league champions and from the CAF Champions League winners. Those players bring experience, confidence and a winning mentality.
The Sundowns players have just come through one of the most difficult matches of their careers, both technically and mentally. Experiences like that are invaluable at a World Cup.
I am also happy they won because success creates positive energy. It is much better to welcome players into camp after a triumph than after a disappointment.
How do you manage the expectations around 21-year-old Relebohile Mofokeng?
The most important thing is to give him confidence while also protecting him. I speak to him regularly because I understand what has happened in his career over the last two years.
He has gone from being an unknown youngster to becoming one of the biggest stars in South African football. He is an outstanding talent, but he is still young and developing. We should not place too much pressure on his shoulders.
He can help us a lot and I believe he has the potential to become an even better player, especially if he moves to a stronger league. But he still needs experience and growth before we expect him to carry the entire team.
What are your expectations for Bafana Bafana at the World Cup?
We have reached a point where we must take the next step. The World Cup is the highest level in football and we will face players with more experience than us. To succeed, we must continue evolving.
I compare it to the 2023 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire. After losing our opening match against Mali, we realised that playing attractive football alone was not enough. We needed more intensity, more power and more resilience.
The players understood that lesson. We changed, reached the semi-finals and won a bronze medal. Now we face another challenge. We must again raise our level and become more complete as a team.
I believe we are capable of making that step. If we do, we can become a team that nobody wants to play against.