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Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie announces competition to send 16 fans to 2026 FIFA World Cup
via The Citizen3 min read
Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has launched a competition to send 16 football fans, one from each Premier Soccer League team, to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The initiative was announced during a media briefing in Pretoria on Thursday, 23 April 2026. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. South Africa's Bafana Bafana will participate in the tournament for the first time since 2010. McKenzie stated that the all-expenses-paid trip to Mexico will cover flights, accommodation, ground transport, and daily allowances, sponsored by two companies, with the department assisting with visa facilitation and match ticket allocation. A panel of South African sports and entertainment figures, including Robert Marawa, Andile Ncube, and Vino Snap, will oversee the selection process. Fans can enter by submitting a 30-second video explaining why they are their club's biggest supporter. McKenzie emphasized that this open competition aims to provide a fair chance for all qualifying South Africans, moving away from a "super-fan culture." He also addressed a social media exchange with popular fan Mama Joy, stating that while he supports her, the new process ensures fairness for everyone. Additionally, McKenzie revealed that his department has arranged an international friendly match between Bafana Bafana legends from the 2010 World Cup squad and their Mexican counterparts in Pachuca, Mexico, on 8 June.
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