South Africa’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been disrupted after visa delays prevented part of the national team delegation from travelling to Mexico as scheduled.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) confirmed that the squad, known as Bafana Bafana, was unable to depart Johannesburg on Sunday after several players and officials had not yet received the necessary visas to enter Mexico, one of the tournament’s three host nations.
The team had planned to travel to Mexico City on a charter flight ahead of the World Cup, where they are due to face hosts Mexico in the tournament’s opening match at the iconic Estadio Azteca on 11 June. However, the unexpected documentation issues forced a postponement of the trip.
In a statement, SAFA said it was working urgently to resolve the matter and ensure the team could leave for North America as soon as possible. The association added that training sessions would continue in Johannesburg until travel arrangements are finalised.
The delay comes just days after South Africa held a public farewell ceremony in Johannesburg to mark the team's first World Cup appearance since hosting the tournament in 2010. Despite the celebratory send-off, the delegation remained grounded due to the unresolved visa applications.
The incident has drawn criticism from government officials and football supporters. Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie described the situation as embarrassing and unfair, expressing frustration that the issue had not been resolved before the scheduled departure date.
SAFA has announced an emergency committee meeting to address the situation and coordinate efforts with relevant authorities.
Before beginning their World Cup campaign, South Africa are scheduled to play a friendly match against Jamaica on 5 June. After facing Mexico in the tournament opener, they will take on Czechia on 18 June and South Korea on 24 June in the group stage.
Head coach Hugo Broos recently unveiled a 26-man squad for the tournament, including two uncapped players.
South Africa are not alone in facing travel-related complications. Iran’s national team is also awaiting visa approvals for the United States, where it is scheduled to play part of its group-stage campaign. Iranian football officials have expressed confidence that the necessary documents will be issued before the team’s matches begin.
The visa delays have sparked debate among supporters on social media, with many questionings why a farewell event was organised before all travel documents had been secured. For now, South Africa’s focus remains on resolving the issue quickly to avoid any disruption to its World Cup preparations.
