Bafana Bafana’s departure was delayed due to visas not being issued for several players and support staff.
Published June 2, 2026
Members of the South African national team departed for their World Cup training base in Pachuca, Mexico, ahead of their opening match against the tournament’s co-hosts on June 11th.
The delegation that departed on Monday did not include assistant coach Herman Muharele, who has not yet obtained a U.S. visa.
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The chartered flight departed Johannesburg in a flurry of 24 hours after the team was scheduled to depart on Sunday, but it was postponed due to visa delays that the South African Football Association (SAFA) described as an administrative issue.
Muharele, a former international winger who made 66 appearances for Bafana Bafana, including his World Cup debut in France in 1998, will now have to travel after his visa application was initially refused.
SAFA president Danny Jordaan told the South African Broadcasting Corporation that the delay was the fault of the US consulate in Johannesburg. “They refused the visa but gave no reason. It’s very difficult to deal with the process when you don’t have the information.”
“We don’t know (why it was refused). We are holding our hands in the dark, but we hope that the problem will be resolved (soon). All the players (on board the plane) and 99 percent of the technical staff are there.”
South Africa will play Jamaica in a friendly on Friday before facing Mexico in a high-profile opening game in Mexico City.
South Africa coach Hugo Bruce said, “I’m very happy to be able to go to Mexico.” “The last few days have been a little stressful with all the issues, but now those issues are in the past and we can focus on the future.”
“The last 10 days have gone by very quickly. Once we get there, we’ll be focused on the first game against Mexico, so time flies. I think we’re all looking forward to the World Cup starting.”
South Africa are in Group A and will play the Czech Republic in Atlanta on June 18th and South Korea in Monterrey, Mexico six days later.
This will be their fourth World Cup appearance, and they are aiming to advance through the group stage for the first time.
