Bafana Bafana's travel plans to the FIFA World Cup 2026 suffered a set-back due administrative bungles with visas, but it has since been resolved. The team will fly to North America a day later than planned.
Image: Jairus Mmutle/GCIS
After the South African Football Association (SAFA) blundered Bafana Bafana's planned departure for their FIFA World Cup 2026 commitments in North America by a day, Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie confirmed that the team will jet out to the USA on Monday.
Bafana Bafana were due to depart from OR Tambo International Airport on a chartered flight to Mexico on Sunday morning, but those plans were scuppered after several players had not been issued with visas, allegedly due to an administrative bungle.
Their opening match is scheduled for June 11 against Mexico at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Mexico, the USA and Canada are co-hosts of the tournament, which runs from June 11 to July 19.
"All Bafana players received their visas to travel to the USA. Outstanding are the assistant coach, team doctor, head of security and one analyst. The charter will leave tomorrow (Monday)," McKenzie confirmed in a Facebook post.
McKenzie was furious when he learned about the administrative own goal SAFA had scored, which would affect the Hugo Broos-coached team's preparations. He labelled the gaffe "embarrassing" and "unfair".
"I have informed SAFA that I need a report and action must be taken against those responsible for this mess. We are being made to look like fools.
"This travel and visa debacle is embarrassing and grossly unfair towards the players and coaching staff," he said.
According to SAFA, the senior men's national team experienced challenges regarding visas for some players and officials, and as a result, the group could not travel to North America on Sunday morning as originally planned.
An Emergency Committee Meeting was held on Saturday night after Bafana Bafana's initial travel plans had to be postponed.
At the time, the football association said: "SAFA is working around the clock to ensure that the team travels to Mexico City as soon as possible ahead of the opening match of the global tournament against hosts Mexico.
"We remain committed to ensuring that the team's preparations for the tournament remain on track and, in the meantime, Bafana Bafana will continue to train in Johannesburg until departure.
"SAFA will have an Emergency Committee Meeting this evening (Sunday) and a further update will be communicated to the nation after its conclusion."
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) also stepped in to assist.
DAILY NEWS