South Africa have qualified for the FIFA World Cup for their fourth time, following a thumping 3-0 victory over Rwanda in a qualifier held at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday evening.

An outside-the-box strike from Thalente Mbatha, a half-volley from Oswin Appolis, and Evidence Makgopa's header saw Bafana Bafana clinch a World Cup spot for the first time after hosting it in 2010.

Hugo Broos's team were dominant throughout the match, whereas Amavubi looked uncertain and unlike the team that comfortably beat South Africa 2-0 in November 2023 at Huye Stadium, Rwanda.

They got off to an impressive start, with Mbatha unleashing a right-footed shot that Amavubi goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari failed to keep out despite getting his hands to the ball as the midfielder put his national team ahead in the fifth minute.

Through South Africa's utter dominance, Appolis doubled the lead with a wonderful half-volley goal from inside the box in the 26th minute.

Rwanda head coach Adel Amrouche made an adjustment after seven minutes into the second half, with Emmanuel Imanishimwe coming on for Jojea Kwizera. Abeddy Biramahire and Aly-Enzo Hamon replaced Innocent and Claude Niyomugabo, respectively, in the 68th minute.

However, a 127th-ranked country – on the latest FIFA ranking – demonstrated no sign to bounce back.

Makgopa capped off his team's monumental triumph, heading home in the 72nd minute after a corner kick played by Appolis, as three Orlando Pirates players helped South Africa to win their final 2026 World Cup qualifier in front of their home crowd.

Bafana Bafana will play the FIFA World Cup for their fourth time, having done so in 1998, 2002, and 2010, the year they hosted the football's most prestigious competition to become the first African country to do so.

"It feels wonderful, we all knew that we could do it. We believed in ourselves, and I think we showed, from the beginning of the game, that we wanted to win it," South Africa manager Hugo Broos told SABC Sport.

The Belgium coach, 73, also announced – during the post-game press conference – that he will retire from coaching after the 2026 World Cup.

Bafana Bafana v Amavubi

Photo: Ange Mutsinzi of Amavubi in action during his national team's 3-0 defeat to Bafana Bafana.