South African midfielder Jayden Adams has died at age 25, according to the country’s minister of sports, arts and culture, Gayton McKenzie. Adams had recently played for the national team, known as Bafana Bafana, at the 2026 World Cup.
In a July 11 statement, McKenzie said South African football had lost one of its brightest young talents. He added that Adams had developed from an academy prospect into a full international player and said the country mourns with his family, teammates and supporters.
Officials have not confirmed the cause of Adams’ death. McKenzie asked the public and media not to speculate and to give Adams’ family and Mamelodi Sundowns privacy during what he called an incredibly difficult time.
Adams made his World Cup debut in 2022 and appeared in all three of South Africa’s group matches at the 2026 tournament, according to the report from E! News. He played in the team’s 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic and also took part in the win over South Korea that helped South Africa reach the knockout round for the first time.
The South African Football Players Union said it was devastated by the news, calling Adams’ death an immeasurable loss to his family, teammates, clubs and the wider football community.
