The draw took place at FIFA Headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, on Thursday, with matches scheduled between 24 November and 5 December 2026 at a venue yet to be confirmed.
Banyana Banyana head coach Dr Desiree Ellis believes the draw presents a challenging but manageable task for her side, while stressing the importance of making a strong start.
“It’s not an easy draw but it is doable provided we get off to a good start. The first game is the most important because if you fail in that one, your job becomes even harder.”
Ellis said the team’s recent victory over Nigeria has provided a confidence boost ahead of the play-off tournament.
“Defeating Nigeria has given the players a confidence boost and they were eager to know the draw. Now that we know our opponents, we can do our homework thoroughly and prepare well.”
South Africa have previously faced Uzbekistan but are yet to meet Chinese Taipei and Ecuador. Ellis believes the team must remain focused on the preliminary phase rather than looking too far ahead.
The top two teams from the preliminary phase will advance to the final phase in February 2027, where they will join four other teams — one from UEFA, one from CONMEBOL and two from CONCACAF.
The final phase will feature single knockout matches, with the last three teams standing earning qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Among the African nations already qualified are Cameroon, Malawi, Algeria and Morocco.