FIFA 2026 WCQ: Advantage for South Africa as Zimbabwe loses bid to play home game in Botswana

Femi Fabunmi

The Botswana Football Association (BFA) has rejected Zimbabwe’s request to host their 2026 World Cup qualifier against South Africa in Francistown. BFA said the stadium was already booked.

Zimbabwe has been playing its “home” games in South Africa because none of its stadiums meet FIFA standards. Facing South Africa, the Group C leaders, Zimbabwe wanted to play in Botswana to avoid giving Bafana Bafana a bigger advantage.

But Francistown Sports Complex will be used by Botswana for their own match against Uganda on October 9, a day before Zimbabwe’s fixture.

FIFA rules state visiting teams must train at the venue a day before their game, so the schedule clash made it impossible.

This means Zimbabwe will likely play in South Africa again, possibly at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg or Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

Reports suggest Moses Mabhida is the favorite, but the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) will make the final choice.

ZIFA criticized BFA’s public rejection, saying it was premature. Spokesman Mike Madoda insisted that only ZIFA has the right to choose the venue and that decisions are made in the best interest of Zimbabwean football.

He also dismissed rumors that ZIFA accepted bribes to stage matches in South Africa, calling the claims false.

Zimbabwe is already out of the World Cup race, sitting bottom of Group C with four points from eight matches. South Africa leads with 17 points, followed by Benin (14) and Nigeria (11).