FIFA President congratulates Bafana Bafana

CAF President Patrice Motsepe and FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the 2025 47th CAF Ordinary General Assembly at Kemesha Center in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo on 6 October 2025 ©Samy Ntumba/BackpagePix

by Staff Reporter

Wednesday Oct 15, 2025. 13:00

FIFA President Gianni Infantino reserved special praises for Bafana Bafana this week after South Africa secured 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification in dramatic fashion.

While South Africa needed Nigeria to beat Benin in their final Group C assignment, Bafana likewise needed victory over Rwanda to qualify for the tournament.

With Nigeria putting Benin to the sword via a 4-0 victory, coupled with Bafana’s 3-0 win over Rwanda, the 2010 hosts will now make their fourth appearance at the showpiece.

“Congratulations to South Africa on qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Canada, Mexico, and the United States,” Infantino said, as per Soccer Laduma.

“You are coming back to the global stage for the fourth time after your last appearance on home soil in 2010 and will play in at least three of the 104 matches in North America next year as part of the greatest celebration of our sport that there has ever been.

“It will be another example of how football unites the world.”