South Africa footballer Jayden Adams dies at 25 days after grandmother's death

 South Africa international midfielder Jayden Adams, who featured in all three of his side's ​group stage games at the 2026 World Cup, has died, the ‌country's sports ministry said on Saturday.

No cause of death was given.

Adams, 25, started the Group A fixtures against Mexico and the Czech Republic, and came off the ​bench in the 1-0 win over South Korea that earned ​the side a first ever place in the knockout rounds, ⁠where they were beaten by Canada.

The player's grandmother died a day ​before South Africa played the Czechs, and he was replaced at halftime ​during the fixture.

He played for the Pretoria-based Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa, helping them to the African Champions League title in the 2025/26 season.

"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, ⁠an official body for players in the country, said in a statement.

South Africa's minister of sport Gayton McKenzie also expressed his condolences.

"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 his condolences ​via Instagram, saying his "thoughts and condolences, as well as ​those ⁠of everyone at FIFA and the global football community, are with his family, friends and teammates".

Adams came through the youth development structures at Stellenbosch FC ⁠and ​joined Sundowns in January 2025.

He made his international ​debut against Mozambique in 2022 and won 13 caps, scoring two goals, both in qualifiers ​for the 2026 World Cup.