2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Burkina Faso to Play at Mali’s March 26 Stadium

BAMAKO – The national football team of Burkina Faso, known as the Stallions, is set to face Sierra Leone’s Leone Stars at the Stade du 26 Mars in Bamako during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June, prior to the inauguration of their own August 4 Stadium.

According to Burkina Information Agency, this decision comes as Burkina Faso prepares its facilities for the upcoming games. Before hosting Sierra Leone in Bamako, the Stallions will visit Egypt in the first week of June for their third match of the qualifiers. The correspondence received from the Malian Football Federation confirms Mali’s support for Burkina Faso, promising assistance in organizing the event and expressing the shared enthusiasm of both nations for this cooperation.

The announcement follows Burkina Faso’s journey in the qualifiers, where they currently rank second in their group, trailing behind Egypt. The upcoming match in Bamako is seen as an essential step for the Stallions, enabling them to compete on a familiar ground within the region before they can welcome opponents at their newly completed venue.

The collaboration between Mali and Burkina Faso underscores the growing partnership among members of the Alliance of Sahel States, highlighting sports as a bridge for regional solidarity. With the Stallions looking forward to playing future games in front of their home crowd, the Mali-hosted match marks a critical juncture in their campaign for the 2026 World Cup.