Compiled by Dylan Bettencourt
- Bafana Bafana players will get two million rand each after Safa agreed to a World Cup bonus deal in Mexico.
- Local football clubs like Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates will also get millions from Fifa for the World Cup qualifiers.
Bafana Bafana players will get a R2-million bonus each for playing in the 2026 Fifa World Cup group stage. The 26 players will get this money for their three group matches.
The national team will play Mexico on Thursday. They are also in a group with South Korea and Czechia.
Safa met with the players’ committee after the team arrived in Mexico to talk about the bonuses. Captain Ronwen Williams led the committee.
Fifa guarantees Safa at least $9-million, which is about R150-million, for the group stage. Safa will also get another $1.5-million, or about R25-million, from Fifa for preparation money.
If the team reaches the next round, the prize money rises to $11-million, which is about R180-million. Safa promised the squad and coach Hugo Broos that they will share 30% of everything the team earns.
A senior Safa official said the talks went smoothly and the matter was quickly resolved. The official said the bonus will grow to a higher amount if they move to the next round.
Bafana and Safa have fought over bonuses before. Their most recent clash happened after the 2025 CHAN tournament when players complained about unpaid bonuses.
South African Football Players Union (Safpu) president Thulani Hlatshwayo said players should get no less than 30% of any prize money.
The players are also getting a $100 daily allowance while they are with the national team.
Fifa also has a Club Benefits Programme worth $355-million, which helps clubs whose players took part in qualifiers. Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates have eight players each in the squad.
Both clubs will get $145,000, or about R2.4-million, per player. That means each club will get around R19.2-million. Kaizer Chiefs will get R2.4-million for defender Bradley Cross.
Pictured above: Bafana Bafana football players.
Image source: @BafanaBafana
