Visa issues delay South Africa's flight to Mexico for World Cup

The South African national football team, Bafana Bafana, faces an unexpected hurdle on its journey to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with its planned flight to Mexico being canceled due to visa complications. Several players and officials encountered problems obtaining the necessary travel documents, preventing the squad from departing as scheduled. "The South African National Football Team experienced visa issues for some players and officials. As a result, the group was unable to travel as planned this morning," the South African Football Association (SAFA) stated. SAFA is now working around the clock to ensure the team can travel to Mexico as soon as possible, prioritizing the team's tournament preparations. Despite the setback, the team will continue its training sessions in Johannesburg until their departure. SAFA remains committed to ensuring the team's readiness for the tournament. South Africa is set to kick off its World Cup campaign against host nation Mexico on June 11 at the iconic Azteca Stadium. The team has been drawn into Group A alongside Mexico, South Korea, and the Czech Republic. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.