Overview
- The national team landed at OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday morning and were greeted by hundreds to thousands of supporters who packed the arrivals hall.
- South Africa advanced from their group with a 2-0 loss to Mexico, a 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic and a 1-0 win over South Korea before losing 1-0 to Canada in the Round of 32.
- SAFA confirmed the squad departed Los Angeles and expected to land around 05:30 on Thursday, a timing echoed in on‑the‑ground reports of the early‑morning arrival.
- Coach Hugo Broos and captain Ronwen Williams said the team will move quickly to competitive work for AFCON 2027 qualifiers, and SAFA has begun planning preparations for the September campaign.
- The run marked the first time South Africa reached a World Cup knockout round on merit and has raised public and federation expectations while prompting talks over Broos’s future with the team.