Backfired: Luke Le Roux on how dream Portsmouth move has wrecked his World Cup ambition
The 26-year-old hasn’t played for South Africa since moving to Fratton Park in July 2025
It was a Fratton Park move meant to cement Luke Le Roux’s spot for the 2026 World Cup.
However, by the midfielder’s own admission, the transfer has spectacularly backfired in terms of South Africa aspirations.
And the Pompey midfielder is braced to miss out on the Bafana Bafana’s 26-man squad at this summer’s World Cup finals in America, Canada and Mexico.
Le Roux joined the Blues in July 2026 from IFK Varnamo off the back of successive friendly appearances for South Africa that summer.
With eight caps since his 2022 international debut, the 25-year-old believed Championship football would boost his chances of featuring in the African Cup of Nations and the World Cup finals.
Instead, he made just 16 appearances in his maiden Pompey season - and has never played for South Africa since arriving.
‘I thought it would give me the upper hand’
Le Roux told The News: ‘That is the frustrating one and that was one of the reasons why I came to England. I thought it would give me the upper hand coming to play in the Championship to have a good chance of the World Cup.
‘I also missed the African Cup of Nations in January because of game time. Now I've had a few games, I don't know if it’s enough for the national team.
‘Let’s see what happens, but I don’t have any contact with the national team, nothing.
‘I have played a few times for South Africa, especially under this coach, but then I lost my place when I didn’t get enough game time, which is understandable. I don’t know if the games late in the season for Pompey is enough, we’ll see.
‘It’s really frustrating because the World Cup is everyone’s dream. Everyone wants to be at the World Cup, whether it’s with South Africa, England, Spain, Germany, just representing your country is probably one of the biggest achievements.
‘There are a good group of midfielders for my country, mostly playing back home in South Africa, playing regularly. So I think it’s more about the coach always selects players who are playing a lot.
‘I would still like to be part of the World Cup squad and I will never stop believing in myself. I hope I can.’
Nine international caps for the Bafana Bafana
Le Roux’s final South Africa involvement was as an unused substitute in World Cup qualification matches against Lesotho and Nigeria in September 2025.
Head coach Hugo Broos hasn’t included him in an international squad since, including the African Cup of Nations in December and January.
With four Pompey appearances in their final eight games of the season, including three starts, Le Roux is hoping that late flurry may have caught the Bafana Bafana boss’ eye.
Yet despite fading World Cup chances, he’s still enjoying his time on the south coast.
‘Big up to the Pompey fans’
He added: ‘I have enjoyed playing here at Fratton Park, being in front of the fans. When I signed, I had heard the fans were really good, but I didn’t imagine something like this.
‘This is really something different from my previous clubs, the home support has been amazing. Not just the home support, even when we travel, even when we are not so good.
‘So big up to the fans.’