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South Africanational football team record

219
Wins
146
Draws
123
Defeats

488 matches, 1906 to 2026TFN Elo rating 1717, 59th in the world

South Africa have played 488 internationals since 1906: 219 wins, 146 draws and 123 defeats. Their most frequent opponent is Zambia, with 22 meetings. Their biggest win is 8–0 against Australia in a friendly on 17 September 1955.

South Africa's record

Overall record
MatchesPlayedWonDrawnLostGoalsWin rate
All488219146123660–46145%
Competitive2921329466390–26045%
Friendlies196875257270–20144%
At home2421317239341–16454%
Away152554057199–19636%
Neutral venues94333427120–10135%

Record against every opponent

South Africa have played 99 different national teams. Opponents with a head-to-head page are linked.

Record by opponent
OpponentPWDLGoalsLast met
Zambia2277821–212025
Australia21114647–272014
Zimbabwe21105632–192025
Botswana17125028–102023
Nigeria1728712–252025
Angola1596020–82025
Ghana1555511–132021
Egypt1481512–92026
Namibia1485124–102024
Lesotho1375119–62025
Malawi1384118–42023
Congo1265114–52024
Mozambique1182120–62025
Cameroon1035215–122026
Mauritius1063116–52007
Senegal101548–122021
Burkina Faso953114–62017
Eswatini981021–42023
Morocco943214–102024
DR Congo85219–52024
Ivory Coast82517–52023
Tunisia72237–92024
Cape Verde62226–62024
Jamaica62407–42026
Madagascar64206–12022
New Zealand651026–92014
Uganda642011–62024
Algeria51317–82024
Brazil50053–122014
France51133–112022
Mali52126–62024
Mexico51135–122026
Paraguay51317–62018
Sierra Leone51314–12022
Ethiopia42116–42021
Gabon430110–32012
Germany40132–92009
Guinea41122–42026
Kenya43106–22012
Liberia42207–52023
Saudi Arabia41213–32002
Spain41035–82013
Sudan43016–32021
Tanzania41212–22025
Argentina31112–31998
Benin33006–12025
Denmark31203–22010
Equatorial Guinea32105–12012
Iceland30122–62009
Netherlands30034–131997
Norway31022–32013
Panama30213–42026
Seychelles32109–02018
USA30030–62010
Uruguay30123–72010
Burundi2–0 (2002), 2–0 (2003)22004–02003
Canada2–0 (2007), 0–1 (2026)21012–12026
Central African Republic2–0 (2013), 3–0 (2013)22005–02013
Chad3–0 (2007), 4–0 (2007)22007–02007
Czech Republic2–2 (1997), 1–1 (2026)20203–32026
England1–2 (1997), 1–2 (2003)20022–42003
Gambia0–0 (2015), 4–0 (2016)21104–02016
Guatemala1–1 (2005), 5–0 (2010)21106–12010
Italy0–1 (2001), 0–2 (2007)20020–32007
Libya0–0 (2018), 2–1 (2019)21102–12019
Mauritania1–3 (2015), 1–1 (2016)20112–42016
Niger2–0 (2010), 1–2 (2011)21013–22011
Poland1–0 (2009), 0–1 (2012)21011–12012
Portugal1–3 (1953), 0–2 (2009)20021–52009
Ireland1–2 (2000), 0–1 (2009)20021–32009
Rwanda0–2 (2023), 3–0 (2025)21013–22025
São Tomé and Príncipe2–0 (2020), 4–2 (2020)22006–22020
Scotland2–0 (2002), 0–1 (2007)21012–12007
South Sudan3–2 (2024), 3–0 (2024)22006–22024
Sweden1–0 (1999), 0–3 (2001)21011–32001
Trinidad and Tobago0–2 (1999), 2–1 (2003)21012–32003
Andorra1–1 (2024)10101–12024
Bolivia0–1 (2007)10010–12007
Bulgaria1–1 (2010)10101–12010
Chile0–2 (2009)10010–22009
Colombia2–1 (2010)11002–12010
Costa Rica2–1 (2003)11002–12003
Ecuador0–0 (2002)10100–02002
Eritrea5–0 (2026)11005–02026
Georgia1–4 (2002)10011–42002
Guinea-Bissau3–1 (2017)11003–12017
Iraq0–0 (2009)10100–02009
Israel2–1 (1954)11002–11954
Japan0–0 (2009)10100–02009
Malta1–0 (2000)11001–02000
Nicaragua0–0 (2026)10100–02026
North Korea0–0 (2010)10100–02010
Northern Ireland2–1 (1924)11002–11924
Serbia1–3 (2009)10011–32009
Slovenia1–0 (2002)11001–02002
South Korea1–0 (2026)11001–02026
Thailand4–0 (2010)11004–02010
Turkey2–0 (2002)11002–02002
UAE0–1 (1997)10010–11997

Biggest wins and heaviest defeats

Biggest wins

  1. at AustraliaFriendly, 17 Sept 19558–0 for South Africa
  2. v ZimbabweFriendly, 9 Apr 19777–0 for South Africa
  3. v SeychellesAfrica Cup of Nations qualifying, 13 Oct 20186–0 for South Africa
  4. at AustraliaFriendly, 24 Sept 19556–0 for South Africa
  5. at New ZealandFriendly, 5 Jul 19476–0 for South Africa

Heaviest defeats

  1. at NetherlandsFriendly, 12 Nov 19583–9 for South Africa
  2. at FranceFriendly, 29 Mar 20220–5 for South Africa
  3. v BrazilFriendly, 5 Mar 20140–5 for South Africa
  4. at AustraliaFriendly, 7 Jun 19471–5 for South Africa
  5. v NigeriaAfrica Cup of Nations, 31 Jan 20040–4 for South Africa

Latest results

  1. at EgyptFriendly, 4 Oct 20261–0 for South Africa
  2. v EritreaAfrica Cup of Nations qualifying, 30 Sept 20265–0 for South Africa
  3. v GuineaAfrica Cup of Nations qualifying, 26 Sept 20262–1 for South Africa
  4. v CanadaWorld Cup, 28 Jun 20260–1 for South Africa
  5. v South KoreaWorld Cup, 24 Jun 20261–0 for South Africa
  6. v Czech RepublicWorld Cup, 18 Jun 20261–1 for South Africa
  7. at MexicoWorld Cup, 11 Jun 20260–2 for South Africa
  8. v JamaicaFriendly, 6 Jun 20261–0 for South Africa
  9. v NicaraguaFriendly, 29 May 20260–0 for South Africa
  10. v PanamaFriendly, 31 Mar 20261–2 for South Africa

South Africa's rating through history

The TFN Elo rating rises with wins and falls with defeats, weighted by the opponent’s strength, the margin and the competition.

End of 1906: 1513End of 1924: 1516End of 1947: 1597End of 1950: 1583End of 1953: 1566End of 1954: 1569End of 1955: 1684End of 1958: 1662End of 1977: 1665End of 1992: 1598End of 1993: 1608End of 1994: 1607End of 1995: 1656End of 1996: 1783End of 1997: 1696End of 1998: 1703End of 1999: 1684End of 2000: 1726End of 2001: 1704End of 2002: 1703End of 2003: 1701End of 2004: 1657End of 2005: 1601End of 2006: 1566End of 2007: 1579End of 2008: 1618End of 2009: 1608End of 2010: 1682End of 2011: 1680End of 2012: 1659End of 2013: 1672End of 2014: 1738End of 2015: 1662End of 2016: 1677End of 2017: 1626End of 2018: 1633End of 2019: 1626End of 2020: 1612End of 2021: 1650End of 2022: 1644End of 2023: 1602End of 2024: 1716End of 2025: 1683End of 2026: 1717
Rating at the end of each year. Peak: 1785, reached on 18 September 1996. Hover the chart for any year.

Record by competition

Record by competition
CompetitionPWDLGoals
Friendly196875257270–201
Africa Cup of Nations qualifying70332710110–56
World Cup qualifying6637121787–56
COSAFA Cup593121779–31
Africa Cup of Nations5420171761–54
World Cup1335513–20
Confederations Cup81259–13
Simba Tournament844010–3
Gold Cup41307–6
USA Cup30033–10
COSAFA Cup qualifying21014–4
FIFA Series20204–4
Four Nations Tournament21103–1
LG Cup10010–2

Top scorers

  1. 1Shaun Bartlett15
  2. 2Benni McCarthy12
  3. 3Siyabonga Nomvethe8
  4. 4Bernard Parker7
  5. 5Phil Masinga7
  6. 6Teboho Mokoena6
  7. 7Katlego Mphela5
  8. 8Mark Williams5
  9. 9Sibusiso Zuma5
  10. 10Evidence Makgopa4

Counted from the 131 of 488 matches with scorer records, which are mostly competitive matches, so totals can be lower than official tallies.

Questions answered

When did South Africa play their first international?

On 9 July 1906, a 1–0 win against Argentina in a friendly.

What is South Africa's biggest win?

8–0 against Australia in a friendly on 17 September 1955.

What is South Africa's heaviest defeat?

3–9 against Netherlands in a friendly on 12 November 1958.

Who have South Africa played the most?

Zambia: 22 matches, with 7 wins, 7 draws and 8 defeats for South Africa.

What is South Africa's longest winning run?

7 wins in a row, from 14 June 1947 to 1 July 1950.

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Results through 6 October 2026. Page updated 3 November 2026. How these numbers are calculated.