South Africa players during training. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

South Africa’s departure for the 2026 World Cup ​was delayed on Sunday after some players ‌were yet to receive their visas.

The team ​was due to leave on ⁠a charter flight for its training base in the Mexican city of Pachuca, but that has ‌been delayed “indefinitely”, according to the South African Broadcasting Corporation.

South African Football Association (SAFA) ‌officials did not respond to requests ‌for ⁠comment, but Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie ⁠offered a stinging rebuke in a post on X.

“This SAFA travel and visa debacle is embarrassing and ​grossly unfair towards ‌the players and coaching staff,” he said.

“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.”

South Africa plays in the World ⁠Cup opener against co-host Mexico in Mexico City on June 11, and is appearing ‌at the global finals for the first time since hosting the event in 2010. An administrative bungle in qualifying almost cost South Africa its place at the finals when its 2-0 victory over Lesotho ‌was overturned after it fielded an ineligible player in ​Teboho Mokoena, who was suspended for the clash due to an accumulation ⁠of yellow cards.

Despite this, it still finished a ⁠point ahead of Nigeria and Benin in its qualification pool. South Africa ‌also has Group A games against Czech Republic (June 18) in Atlanta and South ​Korea (June 24) in Monterrey.

Published on May 31, 2026