With South Africa well on course to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Bafana Bafana can take a particularly positive group stage record heading into the upcoming showpiece.

As it stands, Bafana occupy top spot in Group C and hold a five point gap over second-placed Rwanda. Coach Hugo Broos and his charges will now face Lesotho, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Rwanda in the four remaining qualifiers.

However, Bafana Bafana are currently facing a three-point deduction in Group C after fielding an ineligible player during their 2-0 win against Lesotho in March. Midfielder Tebogo Mokoena played in the fixture despite receiving two yellow cards in two previous encounters, which according to the law, requires a one-match suspension.

Nonetheless, while Bafana could feature at the World Cup for the fourth time, did you know that South Africa have never finished at the bottom of their group in each of their last three World Cup appearances?

In 1998, South Africa finished third behind hosts France and Denmark, while Saudi Arabia finished at the bottom of Group C.

At the 2002 showpiece, which was held in Korea and Japan, Bafana placed third behind Spain and Paraguay.

Then in 2010, France finished at the bottom of Group C as South Africa ended their Group A assignment in third behind Uruguay and Mexico.