World Cup 2026: South African FA breaks silence on visa debacle ahead of tournament

South African Football Association has broken their silence following the travel disruption that left the national team unable to depart for Mexico as planned ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Bafana Bafana were scheduled to fly out on Sunday morning to begin their final phase of preparations for the tournament, but the departure was halted after several players and officials reportedly failed to secure visas in time.

The incident has triggered widespread criticism and concern, with questions being raised over how such an administrative setback could occur so close to football’s biggest competition.

In an official statement, SAFA acknowledged the situation and confirmed that efforts are underway to resolve the issue and ensure the team can travel as soon as possible.

“The South African Football Association (SAFA) wishes to update the nation on Bafana Bafana’s travel plans to Mexico ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” the statement read.

“The South African senior men’s national team has experienced challenges regarding Visas for some players and officials, and as a result the group could not travel to North America this morning as originally planned.”

SAFA insisted that the association is working urgently to fix the problem and keep the team’s World Cup preparations on track, while training continues in Johannesburg until departure.

“SAFA is working around the clock to ensure that the team travels to Mexico City as soon as possible ahead of the opening match of the global tournament against the hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca on June 11, 2026. We remain committed to ensuring that the team’s preparations for the tournament remain on track and in the meantime, Bafana Bafana will continue to train in Johannesburg until departure,” the statement added.

The governing body also confirmed that an emergency committee meeting has been convened to assess the situation and determine the next steps.

“SAFA will have an Emergency Committee Meeting this evening (Sunday, 31 May 2026) and a further update will be communicated to the nation after its conclusion,” it said.

The crisis has placed added pressure on South African football authorities, with growing scrutiny over planning and logistics ahead of the World Cup.

Hugo Broos now faces uncertainty over his team’s schedule, including a planned friendly against Jamaica national football team, which remains in doubt depending on when travel issues are resolved.

South Africa are set to open their World Cup campaign against hosts Mexico national football team on June 11 at the historic Estadio Azteca, but preparations have now been disrupted at a crucial stage.

For now, Bafana Bafana remain in Johannesburg as officials race to resolve the visa complications and restore stability to their World Cup build-up.