- Bafana Bafana grounded in Johannesburg after visa processing failure
- At least 20 players and officials affected; one or two technical staff visas declined outright
- Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie confirms all visas cleared — squad departs Monday on chartered flight
- Deputy Minister Peace Mabe: “The centre is not holding at SAFA”
- South Africa open their World Cup campaign against co-hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca on June 11, 2026
JOHANNESBURG — Bafana Bafana will depart for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico late Monday after a SAFA visa bungle delayed the team’s scheduled departure and threatened South Africa’s preparations for its opening match against co-hosts Mexico on June 11.
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie confirmed on Sunday that all 26 squad members had received their visas and that the chartered flight was back on schedule.
The development has done little to ease anger within government, with McKenzie sharply criticising the South African Football Association’s handling of the matter.
“This SAFA travel and visa debacle is embarrassing and grossly unfair towards the players and coaching staff,” McKenzie wrote on X. “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.”
SAFA visa bungle sparks minister’s fury
The squad had been scheduled to board a chartered flight from OR Tambo International Airport to Mexico City on Sunday morning.
At least 20 members of the travelling delegation — most of them players — were still awaiting visa processing at the United States Embassy in Johannesburg, while one or two members of the technical staff had their applications declined outright. SAFA spent the day trying to resolve the situation.
SAFA eventually broke its silence, stating: “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. 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.”
The complexity of the 2026 FIFA World Cup’s tri-nation hosting arrangement contributed to the delay.
The tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, requires a unified travel visa covering entry across all three countries.
For South Africa, securing a US visa was a prerequisite for accessing Mexico, meaning a processing delay at the American embassy in Johannesburg effectively grounded the travelling party.
SAFA had confirmed its final 26-man squad just days earlier, with coach Hugo Broos naming goalkeeper Ronwen Williams as captain. (FIFA.com South Africa squad announcement)
Deputy minister demands accountability
McKenzie’s sentiments were strongly echoed by Deputy Minister Peace Mabe, who spoke to ENCA, expressing her frustration with SAFA’s handling of the matter.
“It shows that the centre is not holding at SAFA. If you are tasked with something, you need to do it with due diligence. The fact that they’ve taken us to the World Cup, but at the last moment, they failed to do a simple administration issue — it cancels everything.”
She added: “She added: “Why did they keep it a secret? You cannot book a flight without a visa. They could have applied for all of them before knowing the final squad. We are not happy because there are financial implications, and this negativity affects the players spirit. “
Mabe urged the squad not to lose heart, noting that Mexico’s visa system is under severe pressure ahead of the opening game.
“We want to say to the players: do not despair. Mexico is very far – 24 hours of travel. The Mexican authorities are chock-a-block with applications from the whole world. What we want is confirmation, visas, and to see the boys at OR Tambo getting on that plane for their first match.”
Team manager’s previous blunder resurfaces
The incident has drawn renewed scrutiny of SAFA team manager Vincent Tseka.
According to reports, Tseka was linked to a similar administrative failure during qualifying, when South Africa’s 2-0 victory over Lesotho was overturned after an ineligible Teboho Mokoena was fielded while serving a suspension.
Worse still, Tseka was not sanctioned following that investigation. He is widely reported to be a long-standing ally of SAFA president Danny Jordaan.
Public reaction has been pointed. “Can someone kindly educate me — what is the problem with Bafana Bafana’s visas?,” Veteran journalist Redi Direko-Tlhabi charged on X, as shown in the thread below, adding: “The USA, unlike many consulates, is excellent with its processing times. So at which point did the problem occur? And when did the team find out?”
One widely shared post was equally critical:
“The process to apply for World Cup visas starts immediately after the team qualify — which was in October (2025) in Bafana Bafana’s case. The coach and technical teams already knew months in advance. This is literally to avoid last-minute surprises… It is either someone dropped the ball in the applying process, or … I really don’t know.”
Bafana Bafana departure confirmed ahead of Mexico World Cup opener
With Monday’s flight now confirmed, all eyes turn to Mexico City. Bafana Bafana open their Group A campaign against co-hosts Mexico at the iconic Estadio Azteca on June 11, 2026 — a repeat of the famous curtain-raiser from the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which South Africa hosted. (2010 starting lineups)
It is a fixture rich in history for South African football — and one that administrative failures at SAFA came dangerously close to disrupting.
Read more: Bafana Bafana’s road to the World Cup | McKenzie World Cup artist lineup row
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