CAPE TOWN: South Africa’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been disrupted after visa delays prevented part of the squad from travelling to their training camp in Mexico ahead of the tournament.
The team was scheduled to depart on a charter flight to the Mexican city of Pachuca on Sunday but the journey was postponed indefinitely after some players had not yet received the required travel documents, according to the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).
The delay comes less than two weeks before South Africa’s opening match of the tournament against co-hosts Mexico on June 11. The team is returning to the FIFA World Cup for the first time since hosting the competition in 2010.
Officials from the South African Football Association (SAFA) did not immediately comment on the situation. However, South Africa’s Sports Minister, Gayton McKenzie, publicly criticized the handling of the travel arrangements.
In a post on social media platform X, McKenzie described the visa and travel situation as unfair to players and coaching staff and said he had requested a report from SAFA on the matter.
World Cup preparations affected
The delay adds to recent administrative challenges faced by South African football. During the qualification campaign, the team narrowly avoided a major setback after fielding an ineligible player in a match against Lesotho.
South Africa’s 2-0 victory in that fixture was overturned because midfielder Teboho Mokoena was suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards. Despite the penalty, South Africa still finished top of their qualifying group, ahead of Nigeria and Benin.
Group-stage schedule
South Africa will begin their World Cup campaign against co-hosts Mexico in Mexico City on June 11.
The team will then face the Czech Republic in Atlanta on June 18 before taking on South Korea in Monterrey on June 24 as part of their Group A schedule.
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