Bafana Bafana needs strategic victories in their remaining FIFA World Cup qualifiers to secure their spot for the 2026 tournament.
2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Bafana Bafana results to date
Bafana Bafana has been performing commendably in their FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Here are the results to date:
- South Africa vs. Benin: Bafana Bafana won 2-1 in their opening match of the qualifiers
- South Africa vs. Nigeria: They managed a draw, sharing the spoils in a tense away game
- South Africa vs. Zimbabwe: Bafana Bafana secured a solid 3-1 victory against Zimbabwe
These results have positioned South Africa well within their group, but there is still work to be done to ensure their qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Next South Africa FIFA WC Qualifier fixtures
Bafana Bafana has several crucial matches ahead that will determine their fate in the qualifiers:
- South Africa vs. Benin: 25 March 2025
- South Africa vs. Lesotho: 1 September 2025
- South Africa vs. Nigeria: 8 September 2025
- Zimbabwe vs. South Africa: 6 October 2025
- South Africa vs. Rwanda: 13 October 2025
These upcoming matches are critical for South Africa, and their performance in these games will be pivotal to their World Cup campaign.
What Bafana Bafana need to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
To secure their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, South Africa needs to meet several key requirements:
Win Their Group
Bafana Bafana must finish at the top of their qualifying group.
This involves accumulating the highest number of points from their matches. Points are awarded as follows:
- Win: 3 points
- Draw: 1 point
- Loss: 0 points
Maximise Goal Difference
In the event of a tie on points, goal difference (goals scored minus goals conceded) will be a crucial tiebreaker.
Therefore, South Africa should aim to win their matches by as large a margin as possible while minimising the goals they concede.
Third Round Playoffs
Should Bafana Bafana top their group, they will advance to the third round.
This involves playing a two-legged playoff against another group winner. Winning this playoff is essential to secure their qualification for the World Cup.
