Visa fiasco leaves South Africa looking 'like fools' before World Cup

South Africa’s World Cup team faced a last-minute visa fiasco, forcing a one-day delay before their departure to Mexico. The squad, set to fly from OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday, June 24, was grounded due to missing documentation for one assistant coach, the team doctor, head of security, and an analyst. All players had received their visas, but the administrative error by SAFA caused the delay, with Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie condemning the mistake as embarrassing and unfair. The team finally left on Monday, June 25, after SAFA scrambled to resolve the issue with the U.S. embassy. McKenzie announced the delay on social media, stating that SAFA must provide a report and take action against those responsible. The squad had received a public sendoff at Wanderers Stadium the night before, but the delay disrupted preparations for their June 11 opener against co-host Mexico at Estadio Azteca. Coach Hugo Broos had chosen Pachuca, a high-altitude city near Mexico City, as the training base due to its elevation of roughly 8,000 feet. He had emphasized the need for at least 10 days to acclimate the team before the match. Players from Mamelodi Sundowns, who competed at the FIFA Club World Cup last year, were unaffected as they already had the required travel documentation. SAFA held an emergency committee meeting on Sunday evening to address the issue, though no immediate resolution was announced. The team continued training in Johannesburg while awaiting the final visa approvals. South Africa’s World Cup campaign begins with a warm-up friendly against Jamaica on June 6, followed by their group opener against Mexico on June 11. The delay comes after South Africa’s difficult qualifying process, where they secured a spot after a controversial 2-0 win over Lesotho was overturned due to a suspended player. They finished atop their group with a narrow lead over Nigeria and Benin. This is Bafana Bafana’s first World Cup appearance since hosting the tournament in 2010.