Desiree Ellis names South Africa squad for 2027 FIFA World Cup play-offs

Banyana Banyana head coach Dr Desiree Ellis has selected her final 23-player squad for the 2027 FIFA World Cup play-off tournament, which will be held in Morocco this month.

South Africa are one of six teams involved in the preliminary round, which runs from 28 November to 5 December. Chinese Taipei, Ecuador, Ghana, Papua New Guinea and Uzbekistan will also compete in the nine-match mini tournament.

Banyana Banyana begin their campaign against Chinese Taipei on 28 November, before meeting Ecuador three days later. Their final preliminary-round fixture is scheduled for 5 December.

The two teams that progress from the preliminary stage will advance to the final qualification play-offs in February.

That phase will consist of three single-match knockout fixtures involving six teams. The two countries that emerge from the preliminary round will join four other sides: one from UEFA, one from CONMEBOL and two from CONCACAF.

The three winners of those games will secure the remaining places at the 2027 Brazil World Cup.

South Africa must come through the play-offs after missing out on automatic qualification through the CAF route. Their failure to reach the semi-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) ended their chance of qualifying directly for the tournament.

Banyana Banyana have previously appeared at the two most recent global editions. They competed at the 2019 World Cup in France and the 2023 tournament in Australia & New Zealand, where they progressed to the second round.