South Africa’s elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup has sparked widespread reactions on social media, with the phrase “Go bek to your kentry” trending across several platforms.
Bafana Bafana’s historic campaign came to an end on June 28, 2026, after a dramatic last-gasp goal from Stephen Eustaquio handed host nation Canada victory in the Round of 32.
Despite reaching the knockout stage for the first time in the country’s history, South Africa’s exit was met with mixed reactions online.
Some social media users celebrated the result, linking it to ongoing tensions over immigration and the treatment of foreign nationals in South Africa.
The reactions come amid reports that anti-immigrant groups have issued a June 30, 2026, deadline for undocumented migrants to leave the country, while Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda and other African countries have begun evacuating some of their citizens over safety concerns.
Following the final whistle, several users mocked South Africa by posting the phrase “Go bek to your kentry,” a slogan commonly associated with anti-immigrant rhetoric, suggesting the team should now “go back to their country” and reclaim jobs they claimed had been taken by immigrants.
Others said South Africa should have been eliminated during the group stage, arguing that it would have made the online banter even more intense.
Across several African countries, some fans also praised Canada for eliminating South Africa, saying the result reflected the frustrations of many Africans over the country’s treatment of migrants.
South Africa’s World Cup campaign nevertheless marked a significant milestone, as Bafana Bafana reached the knockout stage of the tournament for the first time before their narrow defeat to Canada.
