Bafana Bafana Stranded by Visa Issues Ahead of World Cup

South Africa's national football team, Bafana Bafana, encountered significant visa issues that prevented several players from traveling to the 2026 World Cup. An administrative error led to the denial of visa applications at the U.S. embassy, causing the team to miss their scheduled charter flight from Tambo International Airport to Mexico City.

The team, under the leadership of coach Hugo Broos, will remain in Johannesburg to continue training until the visa issues are resolved. South Africa is set to face co-host Mexico in their first match on June 11, with plans to play their second group match in the U.S.

The Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has requested that those responsible for the debacle be held accountable, as the South Africa Football Association has faced criticism for previous administrative errors, including delays in payments and fielding an ineligible player, which resulted in a three-point deduction during World Cup qualifiers.