South Africa midfielder Jayden Adams dies days after participating in the 2026 World Cup

South African midfielder Jayden Adams, who represented his country at the 2026 World Cup, has died at the age of 25, South Africa’s Sports Minister Gaiton McKenzie announced on Saturday.

McKenzie said in a statement: “I was deeply shocked and saddened by the news of Jayden Adams’ passing.”

The minister did not disclose the cause of death, adding: “South African football has lost one of its brightest young talents.”

For his part, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) mourned the player, writing on the X platform: “Football has lost one of its sons.”

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he felt “deep sorrow” over Adams’ death, offering “sincere condolences and sympathies, on my behalf and on behalf of all FIFA members and the global football family, to his family, friends, and teammates.”

Police said they launched an investigation after the body of a 25-year-old man was found inside a home in the Schotsche Kloof neighborhood in central Cape Town on Saturday morning.

Western Cape Police spokesperson FC van Wyk told Agence France-Presse that “the circumstances of this incident are still under investigation.”

Adams played in all three of South Africa’s group-stage matches at the World Cup, helping the Bafana Bafana reach the Round of 32 for the first time in their history, although he missed the final match against Canada.

He was also part of the South African squad that finished third at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations held in Côte d’Ivoire.

Born in Cape Town, Adams progressed through Stellenbosch FC’s academy before becoming the first player to graduate from the club’s academy and sign a professional contract in August 2020.

He made 139 appearances for Stellenbosch, contributing to their 2023 Carling Cup title, before transferring to Mamelodi Sundowns in January 2025.

With Sundowns, he added the South African league title to his record, along with winning the CAF Champions League.

His death comes less than a month after the passing of his grandmother, on the eve of South Africa’s Group H match against Czechia at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

The South African Football Association (SAFA) said at the time: “Jayden started against Czechia and gave everything he had, despite the pain he was carrying after his grandmother’s passing.”