Bafana to Dine with Ramaphosa
President Cyril Ramaphosa will officially host the senior men’s national football team for a formal FIFA World Cup send-off dinner this coming week.
The prestigious event is scheduled for Wednesday, 27 May 2026, at the Sefako M. Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria.
The high-profile farewell will be held as the nation rallies behind the squad ahead of their departure to the FIFA World Cup tournament in Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
The Presidency noted that the evening carries a deeper symbolic meaning for the country.
“The send-off dinner hosted under the theme ‘United by Hope, Driven by Pride’ will serve as a formal farewell to the national squad,” the Presidency said in a statement.
In a major highlight for football fans, the evening will double as the official platform to learn which players will be boarding the plane to North America.
“The ceremony will also include the announcement of the final 26-man squad by Bafana Bafana Head Coach, Mr Hugo Broos.”
President Ramaphosa will not be alone in anchoring the evening's proceedings. He will be joined by Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie, alongside South African Football Association (SAFA) President Dr Danny Jordaan, team officials, and players.
The state noted that the gathering is a reflection of a unified national backing for the team.
The statement continued: “The event forms part of the nation’s support for the senior men’s national football team as they prepare to represent South Africa on the global stage.”
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