South Africa midfielder Jayden Adams dies at 25
Jayden Adams, the South Africa international midfielder, has died at the age of 25. The country’s sports ministry announced the death on Saturday.
Adams appeared in all three of South Africa’s group stage matches at the 2026 World Cup. He started the Group A fixtures against Mexico and the Czech Republic.
He came off the bench in the 1-0 win over South Korea that secured the nation’s first ever place in the World Cup knockout rounds. Canada eliminated South Africa in the round of 16.
His grandmother died a day before South Africa faced the Czechs. Adams was replaced at halftime in that match.
He came through the youth structures at Stellenbosch FC. Adams joined Pretoria-based Mamelodi Sundowns in January 2025.
He helped Sundowns win the African Champions League title in the 2025/26 season.
International career and tributes
Adams made his international debut against Mozambique in 2022. He earned 13 caps for South Africa.
He scored two goals in his international career. Both came in qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
The South African Football Players’ Union called his loss a blow to the game.
“South African football has lost a gifted player, a proud servant of the game and a young life that still had so much to offer,” the South African Football Players’ Union said in a statement.
Sport minister Gayton McKenzie also paid tribute. He noted Adams’ rise from academy prospect to full international.
“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,” McKenzie said in a statement.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino offered condolences through Instagram. He said his “thoughts and condolences, as well as those of everyone at FIFA and the global football community, are with his family, friends and teammates.”
Mamelodi Sundowns and SAFA had not responded to requests for comment at the time of the ministry’s announcement.