South Africa have four times qualified for the world cup (1998, 2002, 2010 and 2026). Each time they did not they did not progress beyond round 1. In 2010 they became the first host nation to be eliminated in the first round.

1998

South Africa didn't make it out of Group C at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

2002

South Africa didn't make it out of Group B at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

2010

South Africa didn't make it out of Group A at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

2026

South Africa have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The team is in Group A and will play against Mexico, South Korea, and Czech Republic.

Trivia

  • South Africa is one of several teams that have been banned from participating at the World Cup. FIFA suspended South Africa in 1961, this ban lasted until 1992.
  • The country's football team is known as Bafana Bafana - "the boys, the boys" in isiZulu - a name that comes from the fans' cry that went up during the squad's triumph at the 1996 African Cup of Nations, hosted in South Africa.
  • Without a great history of participation at the World Cup, South Africa were chosen to host the event in 2010. As automatic qualifiers, they were one of the lowest ranked teams of the 32 qualifiers.