South Africa‘s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have suffered a major setback after visa delays left the national team stranded Sunday, 11 days before the tournament kicks off.
Bafana Bafana were scheduled to depart Johannesburg for Mexico City on a chartered flight on Sunday morning, but were forced to remain in South Africa after visas for several players and officials were not issued in time.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) confirmed the disruption in an official statement, saying the squad could not travel due to visa-related complications affecting members of the delegation.
“The South African senior men’s national team has experienced challenges regarding visas for some players and officials, and as a result, the group could not travel to North America this morning as originally planned,” SAFA said.
The federation added that efforts are ongoing to ensure the team arrives in Mexico City as quickly as possible ahead of their opening fixture.
“SAFA is working around the clock to ensure that the team travels to Mexico City as soon as possible ahead of the opening match.
“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.”
The delay sparked an angry reaction from South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, who described the situation as both embarrassing and unacceptable.
“We are being made to look like fools,” McKenzie wrote on X.
“I need a report, and action must be taken against those responsible for this mess.”
SAFA has since called an emergency committee meeting to address the issue and explore possible solutions.
According to SABC Sport, more than 20 members of South Africa’s travelling delegation, most of them players, have been impacted by the visa delays.
The setback comes just a day after the team received a grand public send-off in Johannesburg ahead of their first World Cup appearance since hosting the tournament in 2010.
Their planned flight from OR Tambo International Airport to Mexico City was ultimately postponed.
South Africa are scheduled to face hosts Mexico in the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the Estadio Azteca on June 11.
Bafana Bafana are drawn in Group A alongside Mexico, Czechia and South Korea.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
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