The South African (SA) government has praised Bafana Bafana for a historic FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign that saw the national team reach the knockout stages for the first time, despite a 1-0 defeat to Canada in Los Angeles on Sunday night.

The result brought SA’s World Cup campaign to an end.

In a statement, the government expressed pride in Bafana Bafana’s achievements throughout the tournament and thanked SA for their support.

Government says, “For the first time in SA’s history, Bafana Bafana reached the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup, inspiring millions of SA and making the Southern African region proud.”

“Throughout the tournament, the players, coaches and technical team displayed courage, resilience, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to representing the country with honour and distinction. Their performances demonstrated that SA football can compete confidently on the biggest stage in world football.”

The government also acknowledged the support shown by SA during the tournament.

“The overwhelming support shown by citizens across the country reflected the spirit of unity, patriotism, and hope inspired by Bafana Bafana.”

“Although this marks the end of South Africa’s FIFA World Cup 2026 journey, Bafana Bafana has left an enduring legacy and laid a strong foundation for the future of SA football. The nation celebrates this historic achievement and looks forward with confidence to even greater success in the years ahead,” read the government statement.

–SABC–