Benni McCarthy Makes Huge World Cup Claim - ‘They are Not Great Teams’

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has given reasons why he thinks his country South Africa will have an impressive World Cup campaign.

South Africa are returning to the biggest stage for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2010 and in their previous three appearances, including 1998 and 2002, they have never gone past the group stages.

At the 2026 World Cup, Bafana Bafana are in Group A alongside co-hosts Mexico, Czech Republic and South Korea and McCarthy feels this is the best opportunity for them to make it to the knockout rounds.

“I think we have a good chance, a very good chance because Mexico is a good team, South Korea is a good team, Czech a good team, but they are not great teams,” McCarthy told Kick Off Magazine.

“They are not teams that have won World Cups. So, I would rather play those teams than face France, Germany and all the other big nations. Those are great teams,” added South Africa’s all-time leading scorer.

McCarthy is drawing confidence from South Africa’s recent strong showing at the Africa Cup of Nations where they finished third in the 2023 edition before a Round of 16 exit last year and feels the quality of his country’s squad is not far off from those they will face in their 2026 World Cup group.

“We went to the semi-final of AFCON in 2024 and reached the Round of 16 this year. We got knocked out, but we have pedigree. We have got good quality,” he added.

“Not that I’m being disrespectful, but you just know, us against Germany, against England, it’s the reality, we have no chance. We are three points down already. But against South Korea, against Mexico, I don’t know. It can go any way.”

South Africa will play the opening match of the World Cup against Mexico on June 11, rekindling memories of 16 years ago, when they also kicked off their own tournament with a game against El Tri, drawing 1-1, and McCarthy does not see why the Class of 2026 cannot do even more.

“If we play like we know we can play, we beat Mexico and South Korea. So, there we have a fighting chance,” he stated.