FIFA World Cup 2026 – South Africa assistant coach Mkhalele cleared to travel to Mexico

South Africa assistant coach Helman Mkhalele has received his US visa and will leave for the team’s World Cup base in Pachuca, Mexico, on Tuesday after players and the coaching staff left for the tournament without him on Monday.

South Africa’s departure for the global finals, the country’s first since hosting it in 2010, has been mired in chaos after it emerged there was an administrative hassle that left most players and coaching staff without the required visas on the day of their intended trip via chartered flight on Sunday.

South Africa will face co-hosts Mexico in the World Cup opener in Mexico City on June 11 and have missed at least one day of preparation and acclimatization at the heights of Pachuca.

Mkhalele’s first visa application was rejected by the US Consulate General in Johannesburg for unspecified reasons, along with that of the team’s security department head, Mdu Mbatha, but both have now been successfully processed.

«I can confirm that Helman and Mbatha have their visas and they will be leaving to join the team. Tomorrow (Wednesday) they will all be together,» South African Football Association president Danny Jordaan told the South African Broadcasting Corporation on Tuesday.

“I would like to express my gratitude and gratitude to all the staff of the U.S. Embassy.”

South Africa will play a final practice match against Jamaica on Friday.

The country is in group A at the World Cup and after Mexico will face the Czech Republic in Atlanta on June 18 and South Korea six days later in Monterrey.

Published on June 2, 2026