FIFA’s Shocking Sanction: South Africa Faces Setback in 2026 World Cup Qualification!

In a stunning twist, South Africa’s hopes for a seamless qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup have hit a snag! The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has ruled in favor of Lesotho, declaring a 3-0 victory against South Africa due to an improper player alignment involving midfielder Teboho Mokoena during their qualifying match on March 21, 2025, at Peter Mokaba Stadium.

The consequences are severe for the South African Football Association (SAFA). Not only has the result been overturned from a hard-fought 2-0 win to a crushing defeat, but SAFA is also facing a hefty fine of 10,000 Swiss Francs. As if that wasn’t enough, Mokoena has received a warning for his involvement. The ruling was handed down just this Monday, giving SAFA ten days to appeal and seek clarification or risk losing further ground in the qualifiers.

FIFA’s official statement elaborated on the situation, stating, “The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has penalized the South African Football Association for fielding player Teboho Mokoena improperly during the preliminary phase match against Lesotho on March 21, 2025. This breach contravenes Article 19 of FIFA’s Disciplinary Code and Article 14 of the Preliminary Round Regulations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”

The dramatic fallout began on March 27, when Lesotho’s Football Association formally lodged a complaint with both FIFA and CAF. They highlighted that Mokoena had accumulated two yellow cards in previous matches against Benin in November 2023 and Zimbabwe in November 2024, rendering him ineligible to face Lesotho. Despite this, he featured in the match, substitution coming only in the 82nd minute.

This punitive decision shakes up the standings in Group C of the African qualifiers significantly. Previously, South Africa led with 17 points, three ahead of Benin and six clear of Nigeria and Rwanda. However, this drastic deduction now places Bafana Bafana in second, with only 14 points, trailing Benin on goal difference with just two matches left to play.

Looking ahead, South Africa’s next match against Zimbabwe will be crucial. The Zimbabweans currently sit at the bottom of the group with only four points, having not secured a win throughout the campaign, drawing four and losing four. Meanwhile, fourth-place Rwanda holds 11 points and still has a theoretical chance to progress, following a combination of three wins, two draws, and three losses.

With this sanction from FIFA, South Africa’s road to a World Cup return after their last appearance in 2010 has been complicated. They now find themselves under immense pressure, as the group dynamics have opened the door for other contenders in the race for the historic 2026 World Cup set to take place across Mexico, the United States, and Canada.