South Africa’s national team touched down in Mexico on Tuesday after a charter flight was delayed by visa issues, the Football Association said. The departure was pushed back one day after emergency engagements with the U.S. Embassy in Johannesburg resolved the matter.
All players had their visas sorted and boarded the departure flight on Monday, a day later than initially scheduled. SportyTV posted footage on X showing Bafana Bafana players exiting the plane on Tuesday.
SABC Sport reported that assistant coach Helman Mkhalele and head of security Mdu Mbatha received their visas after further delays and are expected to join head coach Hugo Broos and the squad in Mexico shortly.
Bafana Bafana are scheduled to play a friendly against Jamaica before opening their World Cup campaign against co-host Mexico on June 11 in Mexico City. Group A fixtures continue against Czechia on June 18 and South Korea on June 24, with that kick-off scheduled for early the following morning for viewers on South African Standard Time.
This tournament will be South Africa’s fourth FIFA World Cup appearance. The team has previously exited at the group stage in 1998, 2002 and 2010 and has never advanced to the knockout rounds.
