The South Africa national men’s football team will depart Johannesburg to Mexico for the 2026 World Cup on Monday after resolving the team’s visa issues. With just 11 days to the World Cup. the Bafana Bafana were supposed to leave for Mexico on Sunday to start preparations for the tournament but had to postpone their departure because some of their players and officials had yet to receive their visas.
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However, South Africa’s sports minister Gayton McKenzie took to X (formerly Twitter) to confirm that the Bafana Bafana will leave for the FIFA World Cup on a special chartered flight on Monday.
“All Bafana Bafana players received their visas to travel to the USA, outstanding is assistant coach, team doctor, head of security and one analyst. The charter will leave tomorrow,” McKenzie wrote on Sunday.
Hugo Broos’ men are set to play the tournament’s Group A opener against Mexico, one of the three North American co-hosts of the World Cup, in Mexico City on June 11. However, they could not board their flight on Sunday as scheduled because not all players and officials had received their visas.
South Africa also has scheduled group games on June 18 against Czechia in Atlanta and on June 24 against South Korea in Monterrey, Mexico. This is Bafana Bafana’s fourth appearance at the World Cup, having previously competed in the World Cup in 1998, 2002 and in 2010 where they played hosts.
South Africa postponed travel to Mexico for 2026 World Cup due to visa issues
On Sunday, the South Africa men’s national football team postponed their travel to Mexico after some players and officials failed to get their visas. South Africa’s sports minister Gayton McKenzie described the development as ” 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,” McKenzie wrote on an X (formerly Twitter) post on Sunday.
Meanwhile, officials of the organisation have assured supporters that they are working feverishly to get the team 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.”
