World football governing body FIFA has confirmed that South Africa’s Group C clash with Nigeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers will take place at the iconic Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein on Tuesday, September 9, 2025.
The announcement, relayed by FIFA’s Head of Qualifiers and International Matches, Gordon Savic, via the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), also stated that kickoff is scheduled for 5pm Nigerian time.
The 46,000-capacity Toyota Stadium—formerly known as Vodacom Park and later Free State Stadium—was one of the venues used during the 2010 FIFA World Cup and is considered one of South Africa’s most prestigious sporting arenas.
This matchday eight fixture could prove decisive in the battle for Africa’s single automatic qualification spot in Group C for the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
It will come just three days after Nigeria host Rwanda in Uyo on September 6.
South Africa currently lead the group with 13 points from six matches, while Nigeria languish in fourth place with seven points, having registered just one win, four draws, and one defeat.
Group C also includes Benin, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho. Only the top team qualifies automatically for the World Cup, while the second-placed team could still reach the tournament via the CAF play-offs and potentially an inter-confederation play-off.
Despite a stuttering campaign so far, the Super Eagles remain mathematically in contention, with four matches left to play.
Following the September double-header, Nigeria will travel to face Lesotho before rounding off their qualifiers at home to Benin Republic in October.
The reverse fixture between Nigeria and South Africa, played in June in Uyo, ended in a 1–1 draw. Themba Zwane put Bafana Bafana ahead in the first half before Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s equaliser early in the second half secured a point for the hosts.
With qualification hopes hanging by a thread, the Super Eagles must secure all three points in Bloemfontein to close the gap on South Africa and revive their quest to return to the global stage.
Nigeria, three-time African champions, are aiming to qualify for their seventh World Cup finals, after missing out on the 2022 edition in Qatar. South Africa, meanwhile, are hoping to make their first appearance since hosting the tournament in 2010.
