There is so much to love about South Africa’s national team—Bafana Bafana—from the energy on the pitch to the color and spirit in the stands. In this World Cup Capsule, Kiyan Singh, Kickback Committee's resident South African, takes you inside his home country’s long-awaited return to the World Cup for the first time since hosting in 2010, and explains why this moment feels bigger than soccer itself.

We trace the sport’s complicated history through colonialism and apartheid—from separate, racially divided football associations and a decades-long FIFA suspension, to the creation of a unified federation and South Africa’s re-entry onto the world stage in the early 1990s. Then we relive the national high of AFCON 1996, with Nelson Mandela lifting the trophy alongside the team, before revisiting the defining moment: South Africa 2010, Siphiwe Tshabalala’s iconic opener against Mexico, and a tournament that helped put African football at the center of the global game.

From there, we break down the road to 2026 under Hugo Broos, whose disciplined approach has restored belief—topping a qualifying group that included Nigeria—and spotlight the players shaping this new era, led by Lyle Foster and a rising pipeline of young talent. He honor national legend Benni McCarthy, explores the uniquely South African joy of Kasi Flava/Diski Magic, and set expectations for a Group A draw featuring hosts Mexico, South Korea, and a European opponent still to be determined.