Bafana Bafana could have played Brazil in Mzansi to prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening match against Mexico on 11 June.

South Africa’s outspoken head coach Hugo Broos revealed that the South African Football Association (SAFA) chose to play against Panama intead of Brazil.

Broos confirmed that Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (CBF) contacted SAFA offering themselves for 5 000 000 USD (R84 million).

ARGENTINA ALSO OFFERED TO PLAY AGAINST BAFANA BAFANA

South Africa have been placed in Group A with hosts Mexico, South Korea and the UEFA Play Offs winner that will be confirmed next week.

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“The best scenario would be to play an Asian team, a middle America team and a European team,” Broos told the media on Monday. “Lydia [Monyepao-Yele] the CEO told me Brazil wants to play us… they asked 5 million Dollars to come. A few months ago, Argentina also wanted to come to Johannesburg to play Bafana Bafana, [for] 5 million Euros [R98 million].

“You understand. So it is easy to say, why not that, and that?

“So Panama is not coming free either. You have to pay also. You have to pay a sum of money. To come and play two games,” Broos added.

BAFANA BAFANA VS PANAMA

South Africa are scheduled to face Panama in two high-profile friendly games. The first match will take place on Friday, 27 March 2026 at Moses Mabhida Stadium with kick-off set for 19:00.

The team will then travel to Cape Town for a second clash on Tuesday, 31 March 2026 at DHL Stadium, scheduled for 19:30.

WORLD CUP FIXTURES

Mexico will host Bafana Bafana on June 11, 2026 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Match day two will be against the European Playoffs winner on June 18, 2026. The game will take place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

South Africa’s final game will ve South Korea on June 24, 2026 at the Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe.

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM BAFANA BAFANA AT THE WORLD CUP?

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