Mbombela Stadium Emerges As Top Choice For Bafana Bafana’s Final WC Qualifier
According to Sportswire sources, Mbombela Stadium is the frontrunner to host Bafana Bafana’s final home match in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda next month.
Final details are being ironed out, with a date to be confirmed once both parties agree. The preliminary date for this crucial game is 13 September.
The match against Rwanda will follow Bafana Bafana’s home fixture against Zimbabwe on 6 September. Like many other member associations, Zimbabwe cannot host home matches as their stadiums don’t meet CAF and FIFA standards.
Broos Insists on a Better Pitch After Toyota Stadium Issues
Bafana Bafana secured four points from their last two qualifiers – beating Lesotho 3-0 on Friday and drawing 1-1 against Nigeria on Tuesday, but coach Hugo Broos was vocal about his frustration with the Toyota Stadium pitch.
The field’s poor condition, with its brown patches and bumpy surface due to a rugby match, made it difficult for the team to play their preferred style.
Broos was adamant that the team will be more careful in selecting a venue for the upcoming match. He pushed back against the suggestion that the poor pitch was a deliberate tactic.
“Believe me, I was here 14 days ago, and I don’t want to repeat what I said to the people [who manage Toyota Stadium],” Broos said after the game against Nigeria on Tuesday’s press conference.
“We also need a good pitch to play football.”
He highlighted that pitches in other cities like Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, and Polokwane have never been an issue, adding, “The next game we have to choose the right pitch, I think. Because we need that also, because even for us, on Tuesday, it was not an advantage against that opponent.”
Mbombela Stadium will host the MTN8 final between Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch on Saturday.
The Final Push for 2026 World Cup Qualification
Bafana Bafana can secure an automatic spot in the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico with a win in either of their upcoming matches.
The team will be especially motivated to perform well against Rwanda, seeking to avenge their 2-0 loss from November 2023, which was also played on a difficult, waterlogged pitch.
