Admin error nearly banned South Africa from World Cup ahead of Mexico opener

South Africa will begin their 2026 World Cup campaign against Mexico today, but Bafana Bafana almost missed the tournament entirely after a costly administrative error nearly wrecked their qualification dream.

The South Africans are returning to the World Cup for the first time since 2010, when they hosted the tournament, but their 16-year wait nearly ended in embarrassment before the competition even kicked off.

The drama started during the African qualifiers in March 2025, when coach Hugo Broos fielded Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Teboho Mokoena in a 2-0 win over Lesotho.

Mokoena, however, was not eligible to play in the match, having been suspended after picking up two yellow cards.

FIFA’s disciplinary committee later punished South Africa by overturning the result and awarding Lesotho a 3-0 victory.

Mokoena was issued a warning, while the South African Football Association was fined £9,340.

But the fine was not the real danger. The bigger threat was that the blunder almost cost South Africa their automatic World Cup ticket.

Before the FIFA ruling, Bafana Bafana were sitting comfortably at the top of their group, three points ahead of Benin and a further three clear of Nigeria.

But the forfeited result suddenly changed the entire qualification picture and left Broos’ men sweating going into the final round of matches.

South Africa needed to beat Rwanda and also needed Benin to drop points to avoid being dragged into the dangerous playoff route involving other second-placed African teams.

For a country that had waited since 2010 to return to the World Cup, one team-sheet error had turned a smooth qualification campaign into a last-day scare.

In the end, South Africa survived.

Bafana Bafana defeated Rwanda 3-0, while Nigeria thrashed Benin 4-0, allowing South Africa to finally seal their return to football’s biggest tournament.

South Africa will now open their campaign against hosts Mexico at the Azteca Stadium, where about 85,000 supporters are expected.

They will also face Czech Republic and South Korea in Group A as they seek to reach the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time, after three previous group-stage exits.

For Broos, 74, the tournament carries extra emotion, as he has confirmed that the 2026 World Cup will mark the end of his 40-year coaching career.

“No one in Hollywood could have scripted it better,” Broos said ahead of the opener.

“I am dreaming of a beautiful ending where South Africa reach the knockout phase of a World Cup for the first time after three first-round exits. Three points will take us through.

“When South Africa bow out of this tournament, I will say goodbye to football. I turned 74 years old this year and the time has come to be with my wife, two daughters, son and eight grandchildren.”

South Africa may have made it to the World Cup, but their journey to the tournament came dangerously close to disaster.

One suspended player, one administrative error and one FIFA punishment almost turned Bafana Bafana’s long-awaited return into another painful absence.