The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has confirmed that South Africa will host Nigeria in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match at Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein, on Tuesday, September 9, 2025.
The confirmation came via a communication from FIFA’s Head of Qualifiers and International Matches, Gordon Savic, relayed through the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). The match is scheduled to kick off at 5:00 p.m. Nigerian time.
The 46,000-capacity venue, formerly known as Vodacom Park and later Free State Stadium, is among South Africa’s premier sports arenas. Built in 1995, it gained international prominence as one of the host stadiums during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The clash marks Matchday 8 in Group C of the African qualifiers and could prove decisive in determining the group winner who will automatically qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Super Eagles will face Rwanda just three days earlier, on September 6, in Uyo.
South Africa currently lead the group with 13 points from six games. Nigeria trail behind in fourth place with seven points, having won only once, drawn four times, and lost once. Despite the underwhelming campaign so far, the Super Eagles are still mathematically in contention, with four matches left to play.
Following the September double-header, Nigeria will travel to Lesotho before concluding their qualifying campaign at home against Benin Republic in October.
The reverse fixture between Nigeria and South Africa in June ended in a 1–1 draw in Uyo. South Africa’s Themba Zwane put the visitors ahead, but Fisayo Dele-Bashiru equalised shortly after the break.
Victory in Bloemfontein is crucial for Nigeria as they look to close the six-point gap and revive their qualification hopes. South Africa, meanwhile, are seeking a return to the World Cup stage for the first time since they hosted the tournament in 2010.
Nigeria, three-time African champions, are aiming to qualify for their seventh World Cup finals, having missed the 2022 edition in Qatar.
