The dream of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has suffered a major blow for South Africa national football team after the country was docked three crucial points by FIFA for fielding an ineligible player in one of their qualifiers.
The world football governing body confirmed the sanction in an official statement released on Monday, revealing that South Africa had breached competition rules by including midfielder Teboho Mokoena in their squad against Lesotho in March 2025 — despite his suspension.
According to FIFA, Mokoena had accumulated yellow cards in previous qualifiers, which automatically ruled him out of the March clash. However, the player was still featured in the match, a move that violated Article 55 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned the South African Football Association (SAFA) for having fielded an ineligible player in the FIFA World Cup 2026™ qualifier match against Lesotho,” part of the statement read. “As a result, South Africa has been deducted three points, and the match has been awarded to Lesotho with a 3-0 scoreline.”
The punishment significantly alters the Group standings, putting South Africa’s qualification hopes under pressure. The dropped points could prove decisive as teams race to secure their place in the global tournament set to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Meanwhile, SAFA has not yet issued an official response to the decision but is reportedly considering an appeal to overturn the ruling before the next round of qualifiers.
