South Africa's Jayden Adams fends off a Mexico player during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Mexico, on June 11. Adams, 25, was found dead Saturday. Photo by Sashenka Gutierrez/EPA
July 11 (UPI) -- Jayden Adams, a South African midfielder who played on the country's World Cup team, has died at 25.
Adams played for Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club, a professional soccer team based in Pretoria, and started in two of South Africa's three group games in the World Cup. He didn't play in Bafana Bafana's round of 32 knockout game, where they were beaten by Canada on June 28.
No cause of death has been released.
The South African Football Players Union, the Ministry of Sport, Arts & Culture and Mamelodi Sundowns confirmed his death to ESPN on Saturday.
