Jayden Adams, the South African midfielder who played in all three group games at the 2026 World Cup, has died at the age of 25.

Two weeks ago, he carried the nation’s hopes to the World Cup. One of those games came one day after his grandmother died, and he played anyway.

The cause of Jayden Adams’ death has not yet been confirmed, and South Africa’s sports minister is asking the public to stop talking about opinions while his family mourns.

“South African football has lost one of its brightest young talents,” Gayton McKenzie said in a statement on July 11, calling Adams a player who “grew up from the academy to become a complete Bafana Bafana player.”

The Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder was present in all three of South Africa’s group games this summer, including the 1-1 draw against the Czech Republic which he played a day after his grandmother passed away. His goalscoring contributions helped a 1-0 win over South Korea which saw Bafana Bafana enter the knockout round for the first time, where they lost to Canada in the round of 32.

The South African Football Players Union said it was “devastated,” describing him as a young man with “a lot to give.”

Looking for a more thoughtful catalog? Follow us on Facebook or go to our website.