FIFA, the world’s football governing body, has published a new FIFA sanctions list for the ongoing 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
FIFA sanctions list explained
This list names teams that have been punished for breaking the rules — ranging from fielding ineligible players to misconduct by fans, officials, or players.
South African fans have been anxiously waiting for this update after concerns that Bafana Bafana might face punishment for playing Teboho Mokoena against Lesotho in March.
Mokoena had already received two yellow cards in earlier matches, which, according to FIFA’s disciplinary rules, should have suspended him for that game.
If South Africa were punished, they could have lost three points — a devastating blow in a tough group that includes Nigeria and Benin.
What the new list shows
The new sanctions list, released in June 2025, includes several notable teams:
- Qatar: Warned for misconduct by players, officials, and the team during a qualifier.
- Indonesia: Warned for security and crowd-related issues in a game.
- Argentina: Fined $20,000 in January and handed a two-match suspension for one of their players.
Importantly, South Africa is not on the list, meaning FIFA has not yet taken any action against Bafana Bafana.
What this means for Bafana Bafana
This development comes as a relief to fans because South Africa currently sits top of Group C with 17 points. Benin follows with 14, and Nigeria has 11.
With only two qualifiers left, keeping their points could mean the difference between making it to the World Cup or falling short.
Former Nigerian coach, reacting to Benin’s recent win over Zimbabwe, was frustrated at FIFA’s delay in making a ruling.
He told the Daily Post:
“South Africa won against Lesotho? Okay, but the match that matters is the first leg, where they have to lose the three points. It is very clear. The rules are very, very clear. It is not normal … What are they waiting for? I don’t know. It is incomprehensible.”
But for now, South Africa remains safe, and the draw against Nigeria on Tuesday, 9 September 2025 (SAST) kept them on track to qualify.
Coach Hugo Broos proud of his team
Speaking after the tense 1-1 draw against Nigeria at Free State Stadium, South Africa’s head coach Hugo Broos praised his side:
“The performance of my team today makes me enormously proud. It may not have been good football at times, but the way they fought for every ball was nice to see for a coach.”
The coach and fans alike know that the final two games will be crucial, but staying off the FIFA sanctions list has given Bafana Bafana a fighting chance to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.