South Africa World Cup Departure Delayed After Visa Issues - New Date Confirmed
South Africa will now fly to their Pachuca training base on Monday, not Sunday. Visa paperwork issues delayed the squad ahead of their June 11 opener vs Mexico.
Broos’ World Cup prep hit as South Africa visa delay pushes Mexico arrival to june 2...
South Africa will now leave for the 2026 World Cup on Monday, sports minister Gayton McKenzie confirmed on Sunday. The departure is a day later than scheduled after every player finally got US transit visas.
The squad was originally set to fly out Sunday on a charter flight to their training base in Pachuca, Mexico. That plan was delayed while SAFA worked to sort out the visa paperwork.
“All Bafana Bafana players received their visas to travel to the USA. Outstanding is assistant coach, team doctor, head of security and one analyst. The charter will leave tomorrow (Monday),” McKenzie said on X.
He had earlier issued a furious rebuke to SAFA over the paperwork issues, calling them “embarrassing and grossly unfair towards the players and coaching staff,” adding “we are being made to look like fools.”
SAFA said in a statement the team couldn’t fly out in the morning as planned because of “challenges regarding visas” affecting some players and officials.
SAFA hasn’t confirmed the new departure time yet, with an emergency meeting scheduled for later on Sunday to address the issue.
South Africa open their World Cup campaign against Mexico on June 11. It’s their first appearance at the tournament since hosting it in 2010.
Coach Hugo Broos had said he wanted the squad in Mexico by June 1 at the latest to help players recover from jetlag and adjust to the altitude. They’ll now arrive a day behind that plan.
Pachuca sits about 680 metres, or 2,200 feet, higher than Johannesburg at 2,432m above sea level.
Bafana Bafana are set to face Jamaica in Mexico on Friday for their final warm-up match before the World Cup.
This @SAFA_net travel & visa debacle is embarrassing & grossly unfair towards the players & coaching staff. I have informed @SAFA_net that I need a report and action must be taken against those responsible for this mess. We are being made to look like fools.
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) May 31, 2026
An administrative error in qualifying nearly cost South Africa a World Cup spot after their 2-0 win over Lesotho was reversed. They fielded Teboho Mokoena while he was suspended for the match.
Even with the points deduction, they still topped their qualification group by a point, finishing ahead of Nigeria and Benin.
In the World Cup group stage, South Africa face the Czech Republic on June 18 in Atlanta, USA, then play South Korea on June 24 back in Mexico at Monterrey.
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