South Africa Announces Squad for 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
South Africa has announced its 20-player squad for the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup, with Dayaan Cassiem set to captain the team as it prepares for the tournament in Belgium and the Netherlands next month.
The squad was confirmed after South Africa completed an unbeaten five-match home series against Malaysia, winning the series 3-0.
Strong Build-Up Before the World Cup
South Africa ended the series with a convincing 5-2 victory in the final Test, where Kenton Melville scored his first international hat-trick.
The series also saw goalkeeper Cullin de Jager continue his impressive form, while Mustapha Cassiem returned from injury to strengthen the team’s attacking options.
Experienced Squad with Emerging Talent
Captain Dayaan Cassiem, who is approaching 100 international appearances, leads a squad that combines experienced players with promising young talent.
The team includes key players such as:
- Dayaan Cassiem (Captain)
- Mustapha Cassiem
- Nic Spooner
- Sam Mvimbi
- Andrew Hobson
- Calvin Davis
- Tevin Kok
Young players including Brendan du Toit, Damian Knott, and Jamie Seale have also earned places in the squad following strong recent performances.
World Cup Schedule
The 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup will take place from August 15 to August 30 in Belgium and the Netherlands.
South Africa’s group-stage fixtures are:
- August 16: Spain
- August 18: Ireland
- August 20: Australia
The team will aim to secure a place in the knockout stage with strong performances during the opening round.
South Africa Squad
The selected players are:
- Andrew Hobson
- Jared Cass
- Ayakha Mthalane
- Kenton Melville
- Brendan du Toit
- Luke Wynford
- Calvin Davis
- Mustapha Cassiem
- Carlon Mentoor
- Nic Spooner
- Cullin de Jager
- Sam Mvimbi
- Damian Knott
- Sihle Ngubane
- Dayaan Cassiem (Captain)
- Tevin Kok
- Hans Neethling
- Trevor de Lora
- Jamie Seale
- Zenani Kraai
South Africa will head into the tournament with confidence after its successful home series and will look to build on its recent progress on the international stage.
