Bafana World Cup Visa Bungle Latest in a Long List of Safa Snafus
- South Africa's national football team, Bafana Bafana, arrived in Mexico on Monday night for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, concluding a 24-hour delay caused by visa complications affecting members of the travelling party.
- Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie coordinated assistance to resolve visa bottlenecks, enabling assistant coach Helman Mkhalele and head of security Mduduzi Mbatha to secure documentation and join the squad by Wednesday.
- Head coach Broos, who played in the 1986 World Cup with Belgium, reflected on his return: "40 years ago, I was here with Belgium as a player," noting the significance of the opening match at Estadio Azteca.
- The South African Football Association established a three-member organizing committee to oversee administrative affairs throughout the tournament, ensuring logistical coordination remains efficient despite the initial travel disruptions.
- Bafana Bafana will continue preparations in Mexico with a warm-up fixture against Jamaica on Friday, before their opening World Cup match against Mexico on Thursday, 11 June, at Estadio Azteca.
27 Articles
27 Articles
About 100 kilometers away, the reality of the tournament began to formalize at the same pace. South Africa’s selection landed at Felipe Angeles International Airport after a stopover in Cape Verde and immediately boarded a bus to Pachuca, Hidalgo, the place chosen as a bunker to prepare for the inaugural June 11 match against Mexico.
South Africa team arrives in Mexico after visa delays; Televisa journalists who spent months in custody due home Wednesday
After resolving visa issues that made them “look like fools,” the South African men’s soccer team arrived in Mexico on Tuesday, two days later than planned. The Bafana Bafana had been due to leave on a charter flight for their training base in Pachuca on Sunday, but that was delayed while the South African Football Association (SAFA) sorted out the paperwork required to obtain U.S. visas. Bafana Bafana arrives safely in Mexico 🇲🇽#BafanaPride@…
The Bafana Bafana are already in Pachuca to enlist for the World Cup debut against Mexico, while the three elements that arrange their visa arrive
Bafana World Cup visa bungle latest in a long list of Safa snafus
The departure of Bafana Bafana for their Fifa World Cup base camp in Mexico was supposed to be about the country’s first appearance at the tournament in 16 years, something this crop of players fought hard to achieve. Instead, the South African Football Association has snatched the spotlight with yet another episode of administrative ineptitude.
The South African
SAnewsBafana Bafana arrive in Mexico
Bafana Bafana have arrived safely in Mexico ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 after resolving the visa issues that delayed the team’s departure from South Africa. The squad travelled to North America on Monday night after initially being scheduled to leave on Sunday. The 24-hour delay was caused by visa complications affecting members of the travelling party. Bafana Bafana arrives safely in Mexico 🇲🇽#BafanaPride@adidasfootball @adidasza @rexona_sa…
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