Following a historic run to the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, South Africa’s Bafana Bafana have officially climbed six places to 54th in the world in the latest FIFA Men’s World Rankings.
The surge represents the national team’s highest global ranking in over ten years and firmly cements Hugo Broos’ side inside Africa’s top 10 nations.
How Bafana Climbed the Ladder
Entering the tournament ranked 60th globally, South Africa bounced back from an opening-match setback against Mexico to secure crucial ranking points on the world’s biggest stage:
- Bafana Bafana 1–1 Czechia: A hard-fought draw against European opposition steadied the ship in Group stage play.
- Bafana Bafana vs South Korea (26th): A decisive, high-stakes victory over the 26th-ranked South Koreans provided the primary points boost to vault South Africa six spots up the ladder.
- Round of 32 vs Canada: Despite a narrow 1–0 knockout defeat to Canada, Bafana maintained their 54th position as surrounding nations failed to surpass their point total.
The Bigger Picture: Premier League Work Permits & AFCON Target
While falling just short of the coveted Top 50 threshold, breaking that barrier remains the ultimate strategic goal for South African football:
- EPL GBE Regulations: Under English Football’s Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) system, players representing nations inside the Top 50 face significantly fewer hurdles when applying for UK work permits—opening direct transfer pathways to English Premier League clubs.
- Next Focus: Broos and his squad will target the Top 50 during the upcoming AFCON Qualifiers kicking off this September.
