Bafana Bafana will play in their first FIFA World Cup since 2010.

• Bafana Bafana’s World Cup departure was postponed due to visa delays, but all player visas were secured after emergency interventions by DIRCO and the US Consulate.
• SAFA has created a three-member organising committee to expeditiously handle any logistical or administrative issues during the tournament.
• Despite losing a valuable day in their travel and preparation schedule, the team will proceed to their Pachuca base in Mexico ahead of their World Cup opener against the co-hosts on 11 June.
• For more news on Bafana Bafana, visit our dedicated section.

World Cup-bound Bafana Bafana will depart for Mexico on Monday, the South African Football Association (SAFA) has confirmed.

SAFA said in a press statement on Monday morning that visas were secured for all the players on Sunday.

This comes after the news earlier in the day that the team’s departure for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was delayed due to an “administrative bungle”.

SAFA held an emergency committee meeting on Sunday night where a number of issues around Bafana’s delayed travel plans were discussed.

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It was revealed in the meeting that the only outstanding visas are for four members of the camp.

According to a social media post by sports minister Gayton McKenzie on Sunday evening, an assistant coach, the team doctor, the head of security and an analyst were still without visas.

SAFA, however, said it was working closely with the relevant authorities to ensure that those members also board the flight to North America.

The football governing body added that a three-member organising committee has been established to manage the team’s administrative affairs during the World Cup. The committee comprises Bafana Bafana head of delegation (HOD) David Molwantwa, SAFA chairperson of the finance committee Mxolisi Sibam and 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,” the SAFA statement read.

“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.”

Bafana were supposed to leave South Africa for Pachuca in Mexico on Sunday where they will be based during the tournament.

They open the World Cup against co-hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on 11 June.

As well as the United States, an American visa also allows entry into Mexico and Canada, the third co-hosting country of the tournament.