The South African Football Association says bonuses owed to Bafana Bafana players and support staff for qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are delayed while tax requirements in the United States and Mexico are finalised.
SAFA said it was required to comply with federal and state tax laws in the United States as well as obligations in Mexico, two of the three countries hosting the tournament.
The association appointed specialist advisers after receiving guidance from FIFA. It has since obtained a United States Employer Identification Number and said calculations and supporting documents were being completed.
SAFA said the Mexican tax process was also being finalised. It did not announce a payment date.
The association confirmed that it had received a portion of the World Cup prize money. It said all match allowances, fees and other amounts owed to the national team had been settled, leaving only the World Cup qualification bonuses outstanding.
Bafana Bafana qualified for the tournament that will be staged across the United States, Mexico and Canada. The expanded competition will bring together 48 national teams.
The update follows questions about when players and staff would receive their qualification bonuses. SAFA’s statement attributes the delay to cross-border tax compliance rather than a dispute over whether the bonuses are due.
