It’s official! Bafana Bafana have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after a crucial 3-0 victory against Rwanda at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday. For the first time since 2002, South Africa will be playing at the global showpiece on merit. (We hosted in 2010 and automatically qualified, remember?)
South Africa has joined nine other African countries who’ve already booked their tickets to the United States, Canada and Mexico, where next year’s World Cup will be jointly hosted. With one spot remaining for an African team, Nigeria, Gabon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Cameroon (runners-up in their respective groups) will have to battle it out at the CAF 2026 World Cup playoffs in Morocco, with semi-finals set for 13 November 2025 and final on 16 November 2025.
It hasn’t been an easy road for Bafana Bafana and national coach Hugo Broos. During the African FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, which started back in November 2023, Bafana competed in Group C alongside Rwanda, Nigeria, Benin, Lesotho and Zimbabwe. Bafana started off strong, managing to win five, draw three and lose two games, but faced setbacks that threatened to derail their campaign to the World Cup.
First, FIFA docked the team three points after fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in their 2-0 victory over Lesotho. Additionally, Hugo Broos’ side struggled in their last two qualifiers, when they drew 1-1 with the second-placed Nigeria and 0-0 against Zimbabwe, who finished last in group C.
However, Bafana bounced back in style, topping their group with 18 points and reawakening Mzansi’s long-lost football pride.
Under Broos’ leadership, SA have managed to restore a sense of pride in South African football, having also finished third in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
This qualification signifies a historic moment for South Africa and brings back hope to the country. It’s time for Bafana Bafana to return to the world stage after 16 years. 🙌🏾
