Big winners and losers in Broos final Bafana squad

Hugo Broos has finally revealed his Bafana Bafana squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, rewarding some rising stars while leaving a number of notable names out in the cold.

After announcing an exciting preliminary squad last week, the Belgian mentor faced a difficult balancing act as pressure mounted from supporters eager to see their preferred players secure places on football's biggest stage.

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Broos confirmed his final selections at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Pretoria on Wednesday, with President Cyril Ramaphosa, Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie and SAFA boss Dr Danny Jordaan all in attendance.

As expected, the final list produced both celebration and disappointment.

Young defenders Olwethu Makhanya and Bradley Cross are amongst the players whose stock continues to rise after forcing their way into the squad despite limited experience at senior international level.

Veteran playmaker Themba Zwane also emerged as one of the big beneficiaries. At 36, many believed the experienced midfielder would miss out, but Broos once again showed faith in the Mamelodi Sundowns star's leadership.

A number of players who made the preliminary squad could not survive the final trimming process as Broos leaned towards continuity and experience for Bafana's long-awaited return to the World Cup.

The 74-year-old coach stayed loyal to the core group that guided South Africa through qualification for the tournament set to be hosted in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

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One of the more debated omissions is Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Petersen. The shot-stopper had built a strong case with his recent displays, but Broos ultimately retained his faith in Sipho Chaine and Ricardo Goss.

Take a look at the gallery to see which players KickOff believes came out as the biggest winners and losers from Broos' final squad announcement.