McKenzie: Six Bafana players cut from World Cup squad to travel to Mexico for opener

Staff Reporter

Six players who missed out on Bafana Bafana’s final 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will travel to Mexico to watch South Africa’s opening Group A match against co-hosts Mexico, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie said on Sunday.

Brandon Petersen, Patrick Maswanganyi, Thabiso Monyane, Thapelo Morena, Lebohang Maboe and Brooklyn Poggenpoel narrowly missed out on coach Hugo Broos’ final squad.

McKenzie said the players would attend the match at the Estadio Azteca on 11 June, with the cost of their travel and accommodation covered by South African brand Old School.

“These six men trained, sacrificed, and prepared with the same dedication as every player in that squad,” said McKenzie.

“They were part of this journey. The margin between making the final cut and missing out at a World Cup is razor-thin, and it would be wrong for that margin to mean that their contribution