That is especially so with eight of the 12 best third-placed sides across the groups reaching the newly-created Round of 32.
It will not be easy, but they have avoided some serious big guns and will be quietly pleased with the outcome.
But who are their opponents?
Mexico
World Ranking: 15
Bafana Bafana face Mexico in the opening game of the World Cup, a repeat of 2010 when they were hosts and held the Central American side to a 1-1 draw in Soweto.
On that occasion, Bafana weathered a first-half storm where they might have been 3-0 or 4-0 down, before taking the lead through the iconic strike of Siphiwe Tshabalala.
Mexico equalised before the end and it was a bit of a smash-and-grab point from Bafana, but one they gleefully took. They would do the same this time round in front of 87,500 at the Aztec Stadium in Mexico City.
Mexico are currently 15th in the world and will be a formidable challenge, but how many hosts have we seen have jittery starts? This will be the perfect time for Bafana to play them, if they remain calm themselves.
Mexico have never been past the quarter-finals at the World Cup and will see this as their big chance.
They have Fulham forward Raul Jiménez up front, but also mostly a group of home-based players, just like Bafana. Considering they might have got Spain, Argentina, England or France, this is a ‘win’ for Bafana.
South Korea
World Ranking: 22
Bafana Bafana have never met South Korea before, but as skilled as the Asian side are, they are also perhaps the perfect opposition for Broos’ men.
That is because, like Bafana, they are not the most physical team, relying on speed and technical ability. In that way, the teams are well matched.
Certainly, man-for-man they are the better side by a few notches and have several players in Europe’s elite leagues.
They perhaps look a little light up front, with Son Heung-min trading down for the MLS, but they will run for 90 minutes and be incredibly well organised.
The Koreans finished fourth when they co-hosted with Japan in 2002, and since then have exited in the group stage twice and the Round of 16 twice as well. They have qualified for every World Cup since 1986 (ironically in Mexico), so there is pedigree there.
Denmark / North Macedonia / Republic of Ireland / Czech Republic
The fourth team in the pool will come from European play-off Path D, where Denmark take on North Macedonia in their semifinal in Copenhagen, and Czech Republic clash with the Republic of Ireland in Prague.
You would think one of the Danes or Czechs would reach the finals, but that is by no means a given.
Bafana would look at any of the four as a side that, on their day, they could beat, even if they would probably be underdogs.
It all adds to the sense they are in a ‘middling group’, which is by no means easy, but where they can get enough points to get out of the pool, at least as one of the best third-placed teams.