South Africa’s World Cup departure delayed by Mexico visas as SAFA intervenes

South Africa’s men’s national team, Bafana Bafana, had their World Cup departure delayed on Sunday, 31 May 2026, after visa hold-ups for Mexico left several players and staff without clearance. The team had been due to fly on a charter from Johannesburg to Mexico City for the Group A opener against co-hosts Mexico on 11 June, but remained grounded. The South African Football Association (SAFA) confirmed the setback and said efforts are under way to expedite the team’s travel.

SAFA said the squad will continue preparations in Johannesburg until visas are issued. Officials added that they are in communication with tournament organisers and Mexican authorities to secure the necessary documentation and clear departure as soon as approvals are confirmed.

The association convened an emergency committee meeting to oversee logistics and timelines, including documentation checks and travel arrangements for affected players and officials. The delay followed a public send-off in Johannesburg a day earlier, drawing scrutiny over travel planning ahead of South Africa’s first World Cup appearance since hosting the tournament in 2010.

Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie criticised the situation on social media as “embarrassing and grossly unfair,” urging a swift resolution so the squad can arrive in North America with adequate time to acclimatise and train. SAFA said it remains committed to keeping preparations on track despite the disruption.

While the group remains in Johannesburg, coaches have adjusted the training schedule to preserve match readiness. Continuity is a priority given the demands of an opening match at altitude in Mexico City, and any further delay could compress recovery and tactical sessions in the final lead-up to the tournament.

SAFA logistics and training adjustments

Visa processing and emergency committee

In a brief update, SAFA said it is coordinating with the relevant authorities to expedite visas for affected players and officials. The emergency committee is overseeing documentation checks and travel arrangements to minimise further delays. Officials indicated they will clear departure as soon as approvals are confirmed.

Maintaining match readiness in Johannesburg

With the team grounded, technical staff have adjusted workloads and session timings to maintain fitness and tactical sharpness. The coaching group is prioritising continuity so that travel, once permitted, does not derail the final phase of preparation. Any slippage in timelines risks reducing acclimatisation time upon arrival in Mexico City.

Tournament schedule and potential impact

Group fixtures and friendly schedule

South Africa opens the tournament against Mexico at the Estadio Azteca on 11 June. Hugo Broos’s side is then slated to face Czechia on 18 June and South Korea on 24 June in the group stage. A warm-up friendly against Jamaica on 5 June had been arranged as part of final preparations after Broos named a 26-man squad that included two uncapped players.

SAFA has not indicated any schedule changes stemming from the travel disruption, but timelines are tight. Logistical setbacks of this kind can affect recovery windows, scouting work and time zone adjustment, so contingency plans may be required if visas are not issued promptly.

Parallel visa issues for Iran

South Africa is not alone in facing pre-tournament administrative hurdles. Members of Iran’s World Cup squad have also experienced visa delays for fixtures in the United States, where they open against New Zealand on 15 June and play two further group matches. Federation officials said FIFA has informed them that administrative work is in progress and visas are expected this week.

SAFA is expected to issue further updates once travel clearance is secured. The immediate focus is obtaining visas for all delegation members so Bafana Bafana can depart promptly and complete final preparations before the 11 June opener in Mexico City.