South Africa, World Cup Opening Match Team Stranded at Home

South Africa’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have suffered an embarrassing setback after visa delays prevented Bafana Bafana from departing for North America as scheduled on Sunday. Sports News

The South African Football Association (SAFA) confirmed that several players and officials had yet to receive visas for Mexico, forcing the postponement of the team’s chartered flight from Johannesburg to Mexico City just 11 days before the World Cup kicks off.

South Africa are due to face co-hosts Mexico in the opening match of the tournament at the iconic Estadio Azteca on June 11, making the delay a major concern for the team’s preparations.

“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 in a statement.

The federation added that efforts were underway to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

“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.” Soccer

The development comes less than 24 hours after the squad received a colourful public send-off in Johannesburg ahead of their first World Cup appearance since South Africa hosted the tournament in 2010.

Supporters gathered to wish the team well, unaware that the departure plans were about to be thrown into uncertainty.

The visa crisis sparked outrage in South Africa, with Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie describing the situation as both embarrassing and unfair.

“We are being made to look like fools,” McKenzie wrote on the social media platform X, prompting SAFA to convene an emergency committee meeting later on Sunday to address the issue.

The controversy has also ignited debate on social media, where many questioned why the squad was formally paraded before supporters if the necessary travel documentation had not been fully secured.

South Africa are scheduled to play Jamaica in a World Cup warm-up match on June 5 before opening their Group campaign against Mexico. They will then face Czechia on June 18 and South Korea on June 24.

Head coach Hugo Broos only announced his final 26-man squad on Wednesday, with two uncapped players earning surprise call-ups for the tournament.

The visa setback is not unique to South Africa. Iran have also encountered travel difficulties ahead of the World Cup, with members of their delegation still awaiting visas for the United States, where they are due to play New Zealand in their opening match on June 15.

According to Iranian media reports, FIFA has assured the country’s football federation that the administrative process is ongoing and the visas are expected to be issued this week.

For South Africa, however, the clock is ticking. With the World Cup opener fast approaching, SAFA faces a race against time to ensure Bafana Bafana arrive in Mexico with enough time to complete their preparations for one of the biggest matches in the nation’s football history. Soccer