South Africa, the final Group A opponent for South Korea’s men’s national football team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, failed to play its last warmup match before the tournament on schedule.
On Saturday, Newsis reported, citing local African media, that “the friendly match between South Africa and Jamaica was delayed due to a visa issue.” According to the report, South Africa had chosen Jamaica as its final tune-up opponent before the World Cup, with the match initially scheduled for Friday.
However, the South African national team’s entry into Mexico, where the match is being held, was delayed due to a visa issue, and as a result the friendly was pushed back 24 hours to Saturday, local media explained.
According to local media, the match between the two teams will be played behind closed doors at 11 p.m. at Estadio Hidalgo in Pachuca, Mexico, on Saturday. South Africa, which previously drew 0-0 with Nicaragua, is treating the Jamaica match as its final live test to confirm its starting lineup.
Meanwhile, South Africa will play its first match against host nation Mexico at 4 a.m. on the 12th (Korea time). It will then face European dark horse Czech Republic in its second match on the 19th, before wrapping up its group-stage schedule against Hong Myung-bo’s South Korea at 10 a.m. on the 25th.
