South Africa’s men’s national football team has been unable to travel to Mexico to begin full preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to visa issues.
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The team was scheduled to depart South Africa on Sunday through OR Tambo International Airport aboard a charter flight to Mexico City, before continuing on a two-hour journey to its World Cup base camp in Pachuca.
However, the plan was disrupted after an administrative error reportedly left visa applications for several players still under processing at the United States embassy hours before the scheduled departure.
Reports also indicated that visa applications for some team officials were denied, leaving both players and members of the coaching crew stranded in South Africa.
As a result, the team led by coach Hugo Broos has continued training in Johannesburg while efforts continue to resolve the travel issues.
South Africa are scheduled to face co-hosts Mexico in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup on June 11. They are also expected to play their second group match in the United States before returning to Mexico for their final group fixture.
The country’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has demanded a report from the South African Football Association over the incident.
McKenzie said those responsible for the embarrassment should be punished, accusing them of making the country “look like fools.”
The visa setback is the latest administrative controversy involving South Africa’s football authorities.
The association has previously faced criticism over delayed payments to national teams, while South Africa’s World Cup qualification campaign was nearly derailed after the team was docked three points for fielding an ineligible player.
South Africa are returning to the World Cup for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2010.
The team has featured in three previous World Cup tournaments but has never progressed beyond the group stage.
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