Jayden Adams, hero of South Africa's first-ever World Cup knockout stage run, dies at 25
South African midfielder Jayden Adams has died at the age of 25, just days after playing for his country at the 2026 World Cup, with no official cause of death released so far.
South African football has been left in mourning after the South African Football Players Union (SAFPU) announced the death of midfielder Jayden Adams, aged 25, just days after he featured for Bafana Bafana at the 2026 World Cup.
The union said in a statement: "SAFPU is devastated by the untimely passing of Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana midfielder Jayden Adams." No official cause of death has been released so far, while police have opened an investigation after his body was found on Saturday morning at a house in the Schotsche Kloof suburb of Cape Town.
Adams started for South Africa in their group-stage matches against the Czech Republic and Mexico, before coming on as a substitute in the 1-0 win over South Korea that secured his country's first-ever qualification to the knockout stage, where they were eliminated by Canada in the round of 32.
Several outlets noted that Adams played the Czech Republic match just a day after the death of his grandmother, Marianna — a gesture that drew widespread admiration for his character, with South African Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie praising his humility when offered condolences over his grandmother's passing.
Adams had joined Mamelodi Sundowns in January 2025 after coming through the Stellenbosch FC academy, and helped his club win the CAF Champions League during the 2025-26 season.
