Bafana Bafana have announced their starting line-up for the FIFA World Cup Group A match against Czechia at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, in Atlanta USA.
It’s been seven days since Bafana suffered a below-par defeat in their opening 2026 FIFA World Cup clash against co-hosts Mexico.
Hugo Broos’ side lost 2-0 and lost two players after both Themba Zwane and Siphephelo Sithole received red cards. The defeat saw Bafana drop to the bottom of Group A, with Korea Republic beating Czechia 2-1.
To keep their chances of qualifying for the knockout stages alive, Bafana will at least have to avoid defeat tonight, while a victory would put them in a much better position ahead of the final group match against Korea.
Czechia, who came through the European playoffs after back-to-back penalty shootout wins over Republic of Ireland and Denmark, are in the same boat, also aiming to progress to the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time in 36 years.
This is the first time these two sides will face each other, but Czechia have faced an African side in the World Cup before, back in 2006, when they lost 2-0 to Ghana.
Here is how they will line up:
Czechia XI: Kovar, Holes, Hranac, Coufal, Krejci, Darida, Cerv, Sadilek, Sojka, Hlozek, Schick
Subs: Stanek, Hornicek, Zima, Chapoulek, Zeleny, Doudera, Provod, Soucek, Sochurek, Kuchta, Chytil, Sulc, Chory, Visinsky
Bafana XI: Williams, Mudau, Okon, Mbokazi, Modiba, Mbatha, Mokoena, Adams, Appollis, Maseko, Rayners
Subs: Chaine, Goss, Matuludi, Ndamane, Kabini, Sibisi, Makhanya, Cross, Moremi, Foster, Mofokeng, Makgopa, Sebelebele