Bafana Bafana have finally touched down in Mexico ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, bringing an end to an anxious travel saga triggered by visa complications that briefly disrupted their departure from South Africa.
The squad, originally set to fly out on Sunday, only made the journey on Monday night after a 24-hour delay forced urgent intervention from football authorities and government stakeholders.
The situation had threatened to derail early preparations, but swift coordination ensured the team reached North America safely and on schedule for their pre-tournament programme.
The disruption prompted immediate action from the South African Football Association, which convened an emergency committee meeting on Sunday to address the documentation backlog.
Working in close coordination with relevant authorities, the federation prioritised the clearance of outstanding travel papers to avoid further disruption. Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie later confirmed that all players had been granted visas, effectively unlocking the squad’s departure and stabilising preparations for the global showpiece.
SAFA later clarified that only a small portion of the travelling delegation was initially affected by the visa delays, with most players already cleared ahead of the revised departure schedule.
Intensive engagement with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, alongside the United States Consulate in Johannesburg, proved decisive in resolving the matter.
Bafana Bafana will continue their build up in Mexico ahead of a final warm up match against Jamaica on Friday before shifting full attention to their opening World Cup fixture.
They open their Group A campaign against hosts Mexico on Thursday, 11 June at the Estadio Azteca. Subsequent matches will see them face the Czech Republic in Atlanta on 18 June and South Korea in Guadalupe on 25 June, as they aim to progress beyond the group stage and make a strong statement on the world stage.
