Bafana Bafana’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been thrown into disarray after administrative delays prevented the team from departing South Africa for their planned training camp in Pachuca, Mexico.

The squad was originally scheduled to leave on Sunday on a chartered flight, but several players and officials were unable to travel due to outstanding visa issues, reportedly linked to administrative inefficiencies within the South African Football Association (SAFA).

As a result, the team remained in Johannesburg while officials, including representatives from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), worked urgently to resolve the situation.

Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie confirmed that players had since received their visas, although some officials, including assistant coach Helman Mkhalele, were still waiting for clearance.The revised plan is for the team to depart on Monday.

SAFA acknowledged the disruption in a brief statement, noting that it was working “around the clock” to ensure the squad reaches Mexico City as soon as possible ahead of their opening group match against hosts Mexico on 11 June at the Estadio Azteca.

The delay is particularly concerning for head coach Hugo Broos, who had emphasised the importance of early arrival in Pachuca to help players acclimatise to high-altitude conditions—an essential part of preparation for their opening fixture.Broos had wanted the squad to arrive at least 10 days before their first match, but that timeline now appears compromised.There is also uncertainty over a planned friendly match against Jamaica, which would have provided valuable match practice.

Reports suggest that around 20 members of the travelling party were affected by visa issues, though players from Mamelodi Sundowns were not impacted due to prior US travel documentation.DIRCO has described the matter as an administrative issue rather than a diplomatic one and says it is assisting SAFA in resolving the delays.

The situation has raised concerns that disrupted preparations could affect Bafana’s competitiveness in a tough Group A featuring Mexico, Czechia, and South Korea.