Lesotho vs South Africa: Historic Moments in Football Unveiled

The South Africa national team won 3-0 against Lesotho in a 2026 World Cup qualifier, moving closer to their first World Cup appearance since 2010.

Although it was technically an “away” game for South Africa, the match took place in Bloemfontein, just under 150 kilometers from Lesotho’s capital, Maseru. Lesotho does not have stadiums that meet FIFA’s standards for official matches.

This matchup is unique in world football. Lesotho is entirely surrounded by South Africa, making it one of only three enclaves globally, alongside San Marino and Vatican City, both located within Italy. However, Vatican City is not a FIFA member, and San Marino has never competed against Italy in an official match.

Therefore, the Lesotho-South Africa game is the only occasion in football history where a nation has played against the country that completely encloses it.