Blab Sports
Official Bafana Bafana Merchandise Now Available Through Pick n Pay and Mr Price Ahead of 2026 World Cup
Retailers are making it easier for South African football fans to show support for the national team without turning to the roadside vendors that were common during the 2010 World Cup. Pick n Pay has announced a partnership with the South African Football Association (SAFA) that will bring a range of Bafana Bafana shirts, hats, sweatshirts, jerseys and pyjamas to more than 30 Pick n Pay stores across five provinces. The collection is priced to be affordable for the average fan and is officially licensed.
Mr Price has followed a similar approach, offering Bafana Bafana kit at a fraction of the cost of match‑day merchandise. The retailer’s products are approved by SAFA and are not counterfeit. The move is intended to keep the money that fans spend on gear within the football ecosystem rather than in the informal market.
The initiative comes as the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches. South Africa will open the tournament on Thursday night, June 11, with a match against Mexico at Estadio Azteca. The team will wear a new Adidas kit that was unveiled earlier this year. The kit will be available for purchase from March 20, according to the official SAFA website.
The 2010 World Cup, which South Africa hosted, was remembered for the widespread use of vuvuzelas. FIFA has now banned vuvuzelas and other loud noise‑emitting instruments from all 16 venues in the 2026 tournament. The ban is part of a broader effort to control noise levels and improve the spectator experience.
Historically, fans in Johannesburg and other cities bought Bafana Bafana shirts and other gear from roadside vendors. After the 2010 tournament, the informal trade continued, with vendors selling a mix of official and counterfeit items. The new partnerships with Pick n Pay and Mr Price aim to reduce that market by offering officially licensed products at a lower price point.
The Boks, South Africa’s national rugby team, had a similar partnership with Pick n Pay that produced a wide range of affordable fan gear. The success of that collaboration is cited as a model for the football partnership.
The official merchandise is not match‑day gear but is still approved by SAFA. Fans can purchase it in stores or online, and the products are designed to match the team’s traditional yellow‑green colors. The availability of official gear is expected to increase fan engagement and provide a reliable source of revenue for the association.
The 2026 World Cup will feature 48 teams and will be played across Canada, Mexico and the United States. South Africa’s participation marks its third appearance in the tournament, after 1998 and 2002. The team is currently ranked 60th in the FIFA world rankings.
In summary, the partnership between SAFA, Pick n Pay and Mr Price provides fans with affordable, officially licensed Bafana Bafana merchandise ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The initiative also aligns with FIFA’s broader efforts to regulate fan behaviour and merchandise sales, including the ban on vuvuzelas. As the tournament approaches, fans will have a reliable way to show support for the national team without relying on informal vendors.
Mr Price has followed a similar approach, offering Bafana Bafana kit at a fraction of the cost of match‑day merchandise. The retailer’s products are approved by SAFA and are not counterfeit. The move is intended to keep the money that fans spend on gear within the football ecosystem rather than in the informal market.
The initiative comes as the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches. South Africa will open the tournament on Thursday night, June 11, with a match against Mexico at Estadio Azteca. The team will wear a new Adidas kit that was unveiled earlier this year. The kit will be available for purchase from March 20, according to the official SAFA website.
The 2010 World Cup, which South Africa hosted, was remembered for the widespread use of vuvuzelas. FIFA has now banned vuvuzelas and other loud noise‑emitting instruments from all 16 venues in the 2026 tournament. The ban is part of a broader effort to control noise levels and improve the spectator experience.
Historically, fans in Johannesburg and other cities bought Bafana Bafana shirts and other gear from roadside vendors. After the 2010 tournament, the informal trade continued, with vendors selling a mix of official and counterfeit items. The new partnerships with Pick n Pay and Mr Price aim to reduce that market by offering officially licensed products at a lower price point.
The Boks, South Africa’s national rugby team, had a similar partnership with Pick n Pay that produced a wide range of affordable fan gear. The success of that collaboration is cited as a model for the football partnership.
The official merchandise is not match‑day gear but is still approved by SAFA. Fans can purchase it in stores or online, and the products are designed to match the team’s traditional yellow‑green colors. The availability of official gear is expected to increase fan engagement and provide a reliable source of revenue for the association.
The 2026 World Cup will feature 48 teams and will be played across Canada, Mexico and the United States. South Africa’s participation marks its third appearance in the tournament, after 1998 and 2002. The team is currently ranked 60th in the FIFA world rankings.
In summary, the partnership between SAFA, Pick n Pay and Mr Price provides fans with affordable, officially licensed Bafana Bafana merchandise ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The initiative also aligns with FIFA’s broader efforts to regulate fan behaviour and merchandise sales, including the ban on vuvuzelas. As the tournament approaches, fans will have a reliable way to show support for the national team without relying on informal vendors.
