Visa issues delay South African team's departure for World Cup

Field Level Media|published: Sun 31st May, 12:17 2026

May 25, 2026; Toronto, ON, CAN; Toronto city worker cleans a sign outside of city hall during the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola at Nathan Phillips Square. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images

The charter flight due to transport South Africa's World Cup team to Mexico on Sunday was grounded because of visa troubles.

The South Africans were expecting to travel to the Mexican city of Pachuca, where they will train, but not all players and officials had received their visas. The South African Football Association is attempting to solve the issue.

In a post to X on Sunday, South Africa's sports minister Gayton McKenzie said the "travel and visa debacle is embarrassing and grossly unfair towards the players and coaching staff.

"I have informed SAFA that I need a report and action must be taken against those responsible for this mess. We are being made to look like fools."

Officials of the organization said they are working feverishly get Bafana Bafana, as the team is commonly known, to the World Cup on time.

"SAFA is working around the clock to ensure that the team travels to Mexico City as soon as possible," SAFA said in a statement. "We remain committed to ensuring that the team's preparations for the tournament remain on track and in the meantime, Bafana Bafana will continue to train in Johannesburg until departure."

South Africa, in Group A, is scheduled to play Mexico -- one of the three North American co-hosts of the World Cup -- in the opening match of the 104-matcch event on June 11 in Mexico City.

It also has scheduled group games on June 18 against Czechia in Atlanta and on June 24 against South Korea in Monterrey, Mexico.

South Africa previously competed in the World Cup in 1998, 2002 and in 2010, the latter as tournament hosts. Bafana Bafana never has gone beyond the group stage.

--Field Level Media