BAFANA Bafana returned home to a rousing heroes’ welcome in the early hours of Thursday morning, 2 July 2026, after making history at the 2026 Fifa World Cup.
Hundreds of supporters braved the winter cold to fill the arrivals terminal at OR Tambo International Airport in Ekurhuleni, celebrating the national team’s historic achievement of reaching the Round of 32 for the first time in South Africa’s history.
The airport came alive long before the team landed. Fans dressed in green and gold waved South African flags, blew vuvuzelas and sang famous football songs as they eagerly waited to welcome their heroes home after a memorable World Cup campaign.
Although Hugo Broos’ men bowed out of the tournament following a narrow defeat to Canada in the Round of 32, they etched their names into the history books by becoming the first South African men’s national team to progress beyond the Fifa World Cup group stage.
Leaders praise the team
The players were welcomed by government officials, Safa executives and sponsors, who praised the squad for restoring pride and belief in South African football.
ALSO READ: Senegal crash out as Belgium produce stunning World Cup comeback
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said the team’s achievements would be remembered for generations.
“We are proud of them. We want to thank the president, the head coach and the captain for leading this team. We also appreciate the support from Standard Bank during this journey.
“This is going to go a long, long way in our football history. This team has achieved something no South African national team has done before by reaching the knockout stages of the World Cup. We are truly grateful,” said Lesufi.
Jordaan hails Broos and Africa
Safa president Danny Jordaan paid tribute to head coach Broos, crediting the Belgian tactician for transforming Bafana over the past five years.
“It’s been a long journey. We started ranked number 85 in the world, and today we are among the top 40 nations. That’s a remarkable achievement.
“I want to personally thank Hugo Broos and his technical team. I’ve seen how hard they work every single day to build this team. Their dedication has taken South African football to new heights,” said Jordaan.
Jordaan also applauded Africa’s strong showing at the tournament.
“Africa had 10 teams at this World Cup and nine of them qualified for the Round of 32. That shows just how much African football has grown.”
Mzansi celebrates its heroes
As the players walked through the arrivals hall, they were greeted with thunderous applause, cheers and chants from supporters eager to celebrate their achievements. Many fans rushed to take selfies, collect autographs and thank the players for a campaign that united the country.
While Bafana’s World Cup journey came to an end in the Round of 32, their historic performance has reignited hope for South African football. Judging by the emotional scenes at OR Tambo, the team may have returned without the trophy, but they came home as champions in the eyes of the nation.
