The Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana will face current Women’s World Champions, the USA, in two international friendly matches, a month after the upcoming 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The announcement was made by the US Soccer Federation on Friday (14 July).
The fixtures come as both countries are among those who are bidding to host the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup – the USA has joined forces with Mexico; Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany are spearheading a joint European bid, while Brazil and South Africa are each going it alone.
Action on the field will go down firstly at the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati on 21 September, with the second fixture scheduled to take place three days later (24 September) at Soldier Field in Chicago.
The clashes comes soon after both the USA and South Africa would have finished their assignments in the 2023 edition of the World Cup – where Banyana Banyana are making their second appearance in the competition, while the reigning World Champions have never missed the tournament in all nine editions since 1991.
This will be third and fourth meetings between the two nations, who are currently locked in final preparations for the month-long global women’s football showpiece kicking off in Australia and New Zealand in a week’s time (20 July to 20 August).
They first met in July 2016 as both were preparing for the Rio Olympic Games of the same year, with the Vera Pauw-coached South Africa going down 1-0 at Soldier Field in Chicago.
The second encounter three years later (May 2019) ended in 3-0 defeat for the South Africans at the Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, California – when Desiree Ellis and her technical team were fine-tuning the squad for their maiden FIFA Women’s World Cup that was held in France in 2019.
In their history, the USA has only met two African countries – the other being Nigeria.
At the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the USA has been drawn in Group E alongside Vietnam, Netherlands and Portugal, while Banyana Banyana will face Sweden, Argentina and Italy in Group G.
“The focus right now is of course on the World Cup, but to get two great matches in our first games back in the USA in two stadiums that are really fun to play in will be awesome for our players and the fans. South Africa has talented players so I’m sure these will be two entertaining games,” said U.S. head coach Vlatko Andonovski.
It will be second time the World Champion play at the TQL Stadium, the home of FC Cincinnati, since their clash against Paraguay in September 2021.
“We are thrilled to again host the U.S. Women’s National Team at TQL Stadium. It will be a fun evening this September to showcase our award-winning stadium and incredible sports vibe in Cincinnati. We have a proud history of hosting exciting events with U.S. Soccer, including the USWNT’s 8-0 win over Paraguay and the USMNT’s Dos a Cero victory over Mexico in World Cup qualifying, both in 2021. We are looking forward to welcoming Rose Lavelle and Aubrey Kingsbury back home from the World Cup as the USWNT and South Africa come to the Queen City,” Jeff Berding, FC Cincinnati Co-CEO told FC Cincinnati.com
By Matlhomola Morake
