Bafana Bafana drops on FIFA rankings despite World Cup qualification

South Africa have dropped four places in the latest FIFA Men’s World Ranking, slipping to 59^th  following a mixed run of results and growing concerns over leadership within the country’s football structures.

In September, the national team played two games in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. They beat Lesotho 3-0 before drawing 1-1 with the Super Eagles of Nigeria in Matchday eight.

The recent two qualifiers, 0-0 with Zimbabwe and 3-0 win over Rwanda, have not been factored.

The October 2025 update, released after 173 international matches including FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers and friendlies, paints a sobering picture for Bafana Bafana especially as continental rivals like Nigeria (41st, up 4) continue to climb.

The recent ranking as released by FIFA

Globally, the top of the table saw a reshuffle: Spain retained their No. 1 spot after back-to-back wins, while Argentina surged back into second, leapfrogging France. Germany returned to the top 10, displacing Croatia, and Netherlands edged ahead of Brazil after the Seleção stumbled against Japan.

But for South Africa, the story is less about results and more about structural stagnation. Despite a talented pool of players and a passionate fan base, the national team continues to underperform — a reflection, many argue, of deeper issues within the South African Football Association (SAFA).

Meanwhile, smaller nations like Lesotho (144th, up 9) and Niger (108th, up 9) are making strides, proving that progress is possible with the right structures in place. Even the Faroe Islands stunned Czechia in World Cup qualifying, climbing nine places and gaining nearly 38 ranking points.

The next FIFA ranking update is scheduled for 21 November 2025, just days before the continental showpiece kicks off in Morocco.