South Africa slam 'embarrassing and grossly unfair' visa issues as squad yet to travel for World Cup

News

FT Desk

The South African Football Association has slammed the current visa protocols for travel to North America after certain members of their contingent were denied authorisation to travel to the World Cup.

South Africa are due to take part in the opening match of the tournament on 11 June when they face co-hosts Mexico at the Estadio Bonarte in Mexico City.

The majority of the squad have travelled to Pachuca for their training camp and base but some players, as well as assistant coach Helman Mkhalele were left behind.

In June, president Donald Trump issued a directive that restricts citizens of 19 specific countries from entering the United States.

These countries are Iran, Afghanistan, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

Exemptions to the ban were granted to athletes, coaches or “persons performing a necessary support role” who were travelling for the tournament or “other major sporting events."

South Africa obviously isn't on that list, so it's been seen as a clerical error by the US Consulate General in Johannesburg.

SAFA president Danny Jordaan told the South African Broadcasting Corporation, “They refused the visa, but gave no reasons. It is very difficult to deal with the process where you get no information.

“We don’t know [why it was denied], we are clutching in the dark, but we hope the matter will be resolved [soon]. All of the players are [on the flight] and 99 percent of the technical staff.”

South Africa’s sports minister Gayton McKenzie wrote on social media:

“This SAFA travel & visa debacle is embarrassing & grossly unfair towards the players & coaching staff. I have informed SAFA that I need a report and action must be taken against those responsible for this mess.

“We are being made to look like fools.”

The full team were supposed to travel on Sunday and have a friendly against Jamaica scheduled for Friday.

SAFA statement on Monday

Full SAFA statement:

"1 June 2026 - Bafana Bafana will depart for Mexico today after visas were secured for all the players on Sunday, 31 May 2026.

"The South African Football Association (SAFA) held an Emergency Committee Meeting on Sunday night, 31 May 2026 where a number of issues around the South African senior men's national team's delayed travel plans to Mexico were discussed by the members. It was revealed in the meeting that the only outstanding visas are for four members of the camp, however SAFA is working closely with the relevant authorities to ensure that they also board the flight to North America.

"To strengthen operational coordination during the FIFA World Cup, SAFA can further reveal that a three-member organising committee has been established to manage the team's administrative affairs during the 2026

FIFA World Cup comprising of: Bafana Bafana Head of Delegation (HOD) David Molwantwa, SAFA Chairperson the Finance Committee Mxolisi Sibam together with the Team Manager Vincent Tseka.

"The three will work together in ensuring that any logistical or administrative matters that may arise during the global tournament are dealt with expeditiously. While the visa delays resulted in the team losing a valuable day in its travel and preparation schedule, SAFA is satisfied that the matter has now been substantially resolved and that the team's World Cup plans remain firmly on course.

"SAFA apologises to the nation for these unexpected travel delays and would like to thank the Department of International Relations and Cooperation

"(DIRCO) for their assistance, as well as the US Consulate in Johannesburg who went beyond their call of duty over the weekend to ensure that the visas were issued for all our players to travel.

"This year's FIFA World Cup will be hosted by the United States of America, Canada and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July 2026."