Hugo Broos insists Bafana Bafana must defeat Lesotho and Benin to keep their 2026 World Cup hopes alive, vowing to step down if they fail to qualify.

With the dream of returning to the FIFA World Cup burning brightly, Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has laid out exactly what his team must do to qualify for the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Sitting second in Group C with seven points after four rounds, South Africa remains in a strong position, tied on points with leaders Rwanda.

But with crucial fixtures against Lesotho and Benin on the horizon, Broos knows that every point is now vital.

Bafana’s path to qualification is clear: they must win their upcoming matches to stay ahead of Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and the rest of their group rivals.

Their next opportunity comes on March 17, when they will host Lesotho, followed by an away clash against Benin in Ivory Coast on March 24.

Broos has done the calculations—picking up six points in these two fixtures would bring their tally to 13, leaving them just a few steps away from securing a spot at the global showpiece.

According to his estimates, 16 or 17 points could be enough to guarantee passage to the expanded 48-team tournament, where Africa will send nine teams instead of five.

Despite his team’s strong performances, Broos refuses to get carried away. Every nation in Group C remains in contention, making the March fixtures potentially decisive.

If Bafana can secure maximum points, the competition could thin out, with teams like Rwanda potentially falling out of the race.

Winning these two games, Broos insists, will be crucial in shaping the rest of their qualification journey.

The Belgian coach has already exceeded expectations with South Africa, leading them to a historic third-place finish at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Ivory Coast.

But he is under no illusions—failing to secure a World Cup spot would mean the end of his tenure. In a candid admission, Broos stated that should Bafana fail to qualify, he will step down immediately.

At 74 years old next year, guiding a team to the World Cup as a coach would be the crowning achievement of his career, having already experienced the tournament as a player.

While qualification remains the primary goal, Broos has urged the nation to temper their expectations should they make it to North America. Unlike Afcon, where South Africa defied the odds to reach the semi-finals, the World Cup will present a far greater challenge.

Broos is realistic—getting out of the group stage would be an achievement in itself.

Facing powerhouses like Argentina or Brazil in the knockout rounds would likely spell the end of their journey, but for South Africa, just competing on the grandest stage would be a triumph.

The road to the World Cup is never easy, but with Broos at the helm and a team that has already proven its potential, Bafana Bafana’s dream is alive.

March’s fixtures could be the turning point in their journey—win, and the path to North America becomes clearer; falter, and the pressure will mount. One thing is certain: the next few months will define the legacy of Hugo Broos and the future of South African football.