Banyana Banyana to face former world champions Japan in double friendly ahead of WAFCON 2026

The South African senior women's national team will first meet the Japan women's national football team on Saturday, 6 June 2026, at the Nagai Ballgame Field in Osaka. The sides will meet again three days later, on Tuesday, 9 June 2026, at J-Green Sakai, also in Osaka.

The fixtures are expected to provide a stern test for Dr Desiree Ellis' squad, with Japan widely regarded as one of the strongest teams in women's football. The Asian side are former FIFA Women's World Cup champions and recently underlined their pedigree by winning the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup.

For Banyana Banyana, the matches form part of an extended preparation plan ahead of the rescheduled continental showpiece. The Confederation of African Football confirmed earlier this month that Women's Africa Cup of Nations 2026 will now take place from 25 July to 16 August 2026 in Morocco, having been moved from its original April window due to unforeseen circumstances.

The South African Football Association, South African Football Association, has also confirmed that two additional friendly matches are planned for April 2026, with opponents and venues to be announced in due course.

The double-header against Japan adds to a growing list of elite-level tests for Banyana Banyana, who were last in action at the 2025 COSAFA Women's Championship in Polokwane, where they finished runners-up.

Previous meetings between the two nations underline the scale of the challenge ahead. Japan defeated South Africa 2-0 in 2019, while the sides played out a goalless draw at the 2012 London Olympic Games, highlighting both the competitiveness and gap in experience at the highest level.

Currently ranked significantly higher in the FIFA standings, Japan will provide a benchmark for Banyana Banyana as they fine-tune preparations for another major continental campaign.