Travel to LA cuts into Bafana prep for Canada clash: ‘Little bit annoying,’ says Broos

Bafana Bafana’s fairytale run to the 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout rounds has hit an early hiccup.

Head coach Hugo Broos is unhappy over travel arrangements set out by FIFA that have disrupted his side’s preparations for Sunday’s clash against Canada in the Round of 32.

After recovering from a tournament-opening defeat to Mexico to reach the last 32 with a crucial draw against Czechia and a victory against South Korea, the 74-year-old Broos expected his squad to head to Los Angeles on Thursday (local time).

Instead, the Belgian said they were forced to remain in Mexico, where they will only land at their knockout round destination on Friday.

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Broos is concerned about the turnaround of their fixture against Canada at the Los Angeles Stadium, which gives them only three days to prepare and travel to the US.

“So, we will start tomorrow by analysing our opponent for Sunday. It’s a little bit of a pity that we have to travel tomorrow (Thursday) first to Pachuca, and then the day after (Friday) to Los Angeles,” Broos told reporters.

“We wanted to go already tomorrow (Thursday), but FIFA didn’t allow it. So that’s a little bit annoying. I rather wanted to travel already tomorrow (Thursday) to the location where we play.

“So, we will have to recuperate very good in the next days. Trainings are not so important. Recovery is the most important now.”

Having shattered one of South African football’s longest-standing barriers by reaching the knockout rounds for the first time, the conversation quickly turned to what comes next.

Broos was asked whether Bafana had already exceeded expectations, or if this group was capable of stretching its remarkable