Bafana visa blunder: Iranian embassy accuses US of sabotage
· The South African
The Iranian Embassy in South Africa has blamed the US for delaying the visas of Bafana Bafana players and staff set to depart for the FIFA World Cup in just a few weeks.
The national team’s chartered flight was grounded on Sunday morning amid reports of “administrative errors”
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Minister of Sport Gayton McKenzie has confirmed that the team has been given the all-clear to depart. However, several staff members are still facing obstacles.
The World Cup takes place from 11 June to 19 July in Mexico, Canada and the US.
BAFANA VISA ISSUES CLEARED UP, SET FOR DEPARTURE
In a post on X on Sunday evening, Gayton McKenzie confirmed that some of the issues facing the Bafana Bafana’s departure to the FIFA World Cup had been cleared up.
He posted: “All @BafanaBafana players received their visas to travel to the USA. Outstanding is the assistant coach, team doctor, head of security and one analyst. The charter will leave tomorrow [Monday]”
All @BafanaBafana players received their visas to travel to the USA, outstanding is assistant coach, team doctor, head of security and one analyst. The charter will leave tomorrow.
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) May 31, 2026
His post came a few hours after he chastised the South African Football Association – run by Danny Jordaan – after it reported “experienced challenges regarding visas for some players and officials”
Gayton claimed that the travel and visa delay was “embarrassing and grossly unfair towards the players and coaching staff”.
Vowing to take action against those who were responsible, he added: “We are being made to look like fools”.
Bafana Bafana have faced US visa delays. They will play against Mexico in their first FIFA World Cup game. Image: @BafanaBafana/XIRAN EMBASSY ACCUSES US OF SABOTAGE
Meanwhile, the Iranian Embassy in South Africa has weighed in on the FIFA World Cup visa blunder affecting both Bafana Bafana and the Iranian national team.
In a post on its official X account, the embassy accused the US of trying to sabotage the teams by “abusing its role as a World Cup host”.
The embassy claimed it had “heavily restricted” the Iranian team, who are still awaiting travel visas. FIFA confirmed that despite Iran playing all three of its group stage matches in the US, the latter refused to permit the team to stay overnight in the country. As a result of rising tensions, Iran’s training camp and accommodation have been moved from the US to Mexico.
The embassy tweeted of the US: “Either they are incapable of managing the process properly, or they are acting in bad faith”.
The United States is abusing its role as a World Cup host.
— Iran Embassy SA (@IraninSA) May 31, 2026
They issued heavily restricted visas to the Iranian team, which is scheduled to play on U.S. soil. They also failed to issue visas to @BafanaBafana in a timely manner.
Either they are incapable of managing the process…