The South African team going to the FIFA World Cup will be placed under house arrest due to a postponement of their visa application

South Africa’s departure for the 2026 World Cup was postponed on Sunday after some players had not yet received their visas.

The team was due to depart on a charter flight to their training base in the Mexican city of Pachuca, but that has been «postponed indefinitely», according to the South African Broadcasting Corporation.

South African Football Association (SAFA) officials did not respond to requests for comment, but Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie issued a sharp rebuke in a post on X.

“This SAFA travel and visa debacle is shameful and deeply unfair to the players and coaching staff,” he said.

«I have informed SAFA that I need a report and action must be taken against those responsible for this mess. We are being made fools.»

South Africa will play co-host Mexico in Mexico City in the World Cup opener on June 11, appearing at the global final for the first time since hosting the event in 2010. An administrative hassle in qualifying almost cost South Africa their place in the final when their 2-0 win over Lesotho was overturned after fielding an ineligible player in Teboho Mokoena, who was suspended for the match. due to an accumulation of yellow cards.

Despite this, the country still finished one point ahead of Nigeria and Benin in its qualifying group. South Africa also has Group A matches against the Czech Republic (June 18) in Atlanta and South Korea (June 24) in Monterrey.

Published on May 31, 2026