Football

Police investigate death of South Africa World Cup midfielder Jayden Adams

Published

3 months ago

July 13, 2026

South African police have opened an inquest into the death of Bafana Bafana midfielder Jayden Adams, whose sudden passing has sent shockwaves through the country’s football community.

According to the Associated Press, the 25-year-old’s body was found on Saturday at a property in Cape Town’s Schotsche Kloof neighbourhood. Authorities said the circumstances surrounding his death are still under investigation.

“Cape Town Central police registered an inquest for investigation following the discovery of the body of a 25-year-old male on Saturday,” police said in a statement, adding that the cause of death has not yet been established.

Adams’ father, Juanito Adams, said the family was awaiting the outcome of an autopsy before making funeral arrangements.

“As you all know, it was an untimely death. The family is struggling to process it. It won’t be easy to carry on. People say it will become easier, but it won’t. You just learn to live with it,” he said.

Adams represented South Africa at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, featuring in all three of the team’s group-stage matches as Bafana Bafana reached the knockout rounds for the first time in the country’s history. He did not feature in South Africa’s 1-0 Round of 32 defeat to Canada.

Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie urged the public to refrain from speculating about the circumstances surrounding the midfielder’s death while investigations continue.

McKenzie also paid tribute to Adams’ dedication, noting that the midfielder played in South Africa’s group-stage match against the Czech Republic despite learning only hours earlier that his grandmother had died.

Tributes have continued to pour in from across the football world, with moments of silence observed before Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final matches between England and Norway, and Argentina and Switzerland.

Police have yet to announce when the post-mortem examination results will be released.