The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has confirmed both the venue and a new kick-off time for Zimbabwe’s 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Group C showdown against South Africa.
The match, set for Friday, 10 October 2025, will take place at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban and now kick off at 6:00 PM CAT, three hours later than initially scheduled.
While the change in kick-off time has already sparked excitement among fans, ZIFA has also clarified why Durban was selected as the host city.
Initially, Zimbabwe had planned to stage the tie in Francistown, Botswana, but the venue was no longer available due to local scheduling conflicts. After exploring other regional options, only two viable stadiums in South Africa remained on the table — Orlando Stadium in Soweto and Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
In a statement on their official website, ZIFA explained:
“The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) wishes to inform fans that the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifier against South Africa on 10 October will be played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, South Africa.
Originally, ZIFA had planned to host the match in Francistown, Botswana, but the venue became unavailable due to Botswana’s need to use the same stadium. After assessing alternatives across the region, only two suitable venues in South Africa remained: Orlando Stadium and Moses Mabhida Stadium. Taking into account logistics, cost, facilities, and fan safety, ZIFA chose Moses Mabhida Stadium to give the Warriors the best possible environment to compete.
We understand the disappointment of not playing at home, but we urge all Zimbabweans to unite and rally behind the Warriors as they take on South Africa in this crucial World Cup qualifier.”
The decision had been keenly anticipated, particularly as the match could be decisive in securing Bafana Bafana’s place at next year’s World Cup in North America. Fellow Group C contenders, including Benin and Nigeria, were also said to be monitoring developments closely, aware that playing in South Africa might hand Hugo Broos’ side a slight advantage.