Today's Talking Points
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1South Africa are at their first World Cup since 2010, when they hosted the tournament. A 16-year absence finally ended — and for a nation that gave the world the vuvuzela, this is a significant moment.
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2They're in Group A with Mexico, South Korea and Czech Republic. Qualifying isn't certain, but South Africa have the advantage of having played hard competitive matches in African qualifying. They're not underprepared.
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3The squad is built around Ronwen Williams in goal — who was the best goalkeeper at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and single-handedly kept South Africa in games they had no right to be in. Goalkeeper as most valuable player is a slightly sad distinction, but it's real.
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4South African football has faced real challenges domestically — the Premier Soccer League is less internationally prominent than other African leagues — but the national team's qualification suggests things are improving.
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5South African fans bring extraordinary atmosphere to games. The 2010 World Cup was arguably the most atmospherically memorable tournament in modern history. They will bring that same energy to their matches in North America, and it will be visible even on television.
🍺 Top Thing To Say Down The Pub
South Africa's goalkeeper was the best in Africa at the last AFCON. He's the main reason they qualified. Keep an eye on him — keepers can carry teams further than people expect.
🚫 Avoid Saying
"South Africa just hosted in 2010" — that was 16 years ago. The entire squad has grown up since then. It's a new thing.