South Africa first qualified for the World Cup in 1998, then again in 2002, before hosting the tournament in 2010. It has taken a 16-year wait for Bafana Bafana to finally make their return.
Across those four tournaments, Orlando Pirates have produced 14 World Cup players for South Africa, the highest total, including two in 1998 when Bafana Bafana made their debut at the tournament in France. They have eight in the 2026 squad.
Their players are Willem Jackson, Jerry Sikhosana (both 1998), Thabo Mngomeni (2002), Moeneeb Josephs, Teko Modise, Lucas Thwala (all 2010), Oswin Appollis, Sipho Chaine, Evidence Makgopa, Thalente Mbatha, Relebohile Mofokeng, Tshepang Moremi, Kamogelo Sebelebele, Nkosinathi Sibisi (all 2026)
Mamelodi Sundowns now have a total of 13 players who have been selected. They had only one player in the country's first two appearances in 1998 and 2002, but that figure has been boosted significantly by also having eight players selected for the 2026 finals.
The Sundowns players are Themba Mnguni (1998), Matthew Booth, Siboniso Gaxa, Surprise Moriri, Katlego Mphela (all 2010), Jayden Adams, Aubrey Modiba, Teboho Mokoena, Khuliso Mudau, Khulumani Ndamane, Iqraam Rayners, Ronwen Williams and Themba Zwane (2026)
Surprise selection Bradley Cross takes Kaizer Chiefs' all-time tally to eight World Cup representatives.
A further 12 South African clubs have produced Bafana Bafana World Cup players, with Polokwane City and Siwelele joining the list for the first time at this year's tournament.
South Africa have also selected players based at 37 foreign clubs across 18 different countries for their four World Cup appearances.
Four overseas clubs have provided more than one Bafana Bafana player at a World Cup: Ajax Amsterdam with Benedict McCarthy (1998) and Steven Pienaar (2002), Lokomotiv Moscow with Jacob Lekgetho and Benedict Vilakazi (both 2002), Swiss side St Gallen with David Nyathi (1998) and Teboho Mokoena (2002), and Vanspor in Turkey with Lebogang Morula and Alfred Phiri (both 1998).
Eight English clubs have supplied World Cup-bound Bafana Bafana players, the most from any single country outside South Africa.
They are Bolton Wanderers (Mark Fish, 1998), Burnley (Lyle Foster, 2026), Everton (Steven Pienaar, 2010), Fulham (Kagisho Dikgacoi, 2010), Leeds United (Lucas Radebe, 1998 and 2002), Manchester United (Quinton Fortune, 2002), Portsmouth (Aaron Mokoena, 2010) and Watford (Pierre Issa, 2002).