South Africa World Cup player Jayden Adams dead at 25

South African midfielder Jayden Adams, who played for his country at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has died at the age of 25, government and football officials announced. The cause of his death has not been confirmed.

Adams’ body was found Saturday at a property along Military Road in Schotsche Kloof, an area of Cape Town, according to South Africa’s EWN. Police have opened an investigation into his death.

Adams played for Mamelodi Sundowns and South Africa’s national team, known as Bafana Bafana. He appeared in all three of South Africa’s group matches at the 2026 World Cup, where the team finished second in its group before losing to Canada in the Round of 32.

“South African football has lost one of its brightest young talents, and our nation mourns alongside his family, his teammates and the millions of supporters who watched him grow from a promising academy prospect into a full Bafana Bafana international,” South African Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie said.

Adams began his career at Stellenbosch FC, where he became the club academy’s first graduate to sign a professional contract in August 2020. He made 139 appearances for the club and helped it win the 2023 Carling Knockout before moving to Mamelodi Sundowns in January 2025.

He went on to win a Betway Premiership title and the CAF Champions League with Sundowns. Adams was also part of the South African squad that finished third at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire.

McKenzie said Adams played in South Africa’s World Cup match against Czechia in Atlanta only hours after his grandmother, Marianna, died.

“It’s so incredibly sad to hear that South Africa midfielder Jayden Adams has passed away just weeks after featuring in his nation’s historic FIFA World Cup campaign,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement. “My thoughts and condolences, as well as those of everyone at FIFA and the global football community, are with his family, friends and teammates.”

The Mexican Football Federation, whose national team faced South Africa in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup on June 11, also expressed its condolences. Canada Soccer said it was “devastated” by Adams’ death.

A moment of silence was held in Adams’ memory before the World Cup quarter-final match between Norway and England.