South Africa international midfielder Jayden Adams, who featured in all three of his country’s group stage matches at the 2026 World Cup, has died at the age of 25.
No cause of death has been given, according to CNN Sports.
Adams started against Mexico and the Czech Republic before coming off the bench in South Africa’s 1-0 win over South Korea, a result that sent Bafana Bafana into the knockout rounds for the first time in their history, where they were eliminated by Canada.
His grandmother had died the day before the Czech Republic match, and he was substituted at halftime.
Adams played for Mamelodi Sundowns, helping the club win the African Champions League title in 2025/26, having come through Stellenbosch FC’s youth system before joining Sundowns in January 2025.
He earned 13 caps and scored two goals, both in World Cup qualifiers, since debuting in 2022.The South African Football Players’ Union said the country had “lost a gifted player, a proud servant of the game.”
Sports minister Gayton McKenzie and FIFA president Gianni Infantino also offered condolences.
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