Bafana Bafana have climbed six places in the latest FIFA World Rankings following their historic run to the Round of 32 at the FIFA World Cup.
The updated rankings were released this week after the conclusion of the tournament, with South Africa now occupying 54th place in the world, their highest ranking in more than a decade.
Hugo Broos‘ side also remain among Africa’s top 10 teams, although they still trail continental heavyweights Morocco and Senegal, who continue to lead the way.
South Africa were one of eight African nations to reach the knockout stages of the World Cup, with Tunisia the only team from the continent to exit at the group stage.
How Bafana climbed the rankings
Bafana entered the World Cup ranked 60th in the world, and their opening defeat to Mexico did little to boost their standing.
However, a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Czechia in their second group match helped them gain valuable ranking points. They then secured a crucial victory over then-26th-ranked South Korea, a result that propelled them six places up the rankings.
Although South Africa were edged 1-0 by Canada in the Round of 32, they retained their new position as the teams immediately below them failed to collect enough points to overtake them.
A victory over Canada would have lifted Bafana into FIFA’s top 50 rankings for the first time in years, marking another significant milestone for South African football.
Breaking into the top 50 could also have brought long-term benefits beyond the national team.
Under the English Premier League’s Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) system, players from higher-ranked nations generally have an easier pathway to securing work permits, potentially making it easier for South African footballers to earn direct moves to Premier League clubs.
Bafana will look to improve their rankings in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in September.
