South Africa national football team has been forced to postpone its travel plans to the 2026 FIFA World Cup after visa-related complications disrupted the team’s scheduled departure.
The South African men’s national team was expected to leave OR Tambo International Airport on a chartered flight to Mexico early on Sunday morning ahead of the tournament.
However, the departure was delayed after several players reportedly had not yet been issued with visas, allegedly due to an administrative mix-up.
The setback comes just days before Bafana Bafana’s opening match of the tournament. South Africa is scheduled to face Mexico on 11 June in its first Group A fixture.
Despite the unexpected delay, officials are expected to work urgently to resolve the visa issues and ensure the squad arrives in time for its World Cup preparations.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup marks a significant occasion for South African football, with supporters eagerly awaiting the team’s return to football’s biggest stage.
