SOUTH AFRICA WORLD CUP MIDFIELDER JAYDEN ADAMS DIES AT 25

South Africa and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Jayden Adams died on July 11 at the age of 25, according to ESPN, Sky Sports, Al Jazeera, CNN and CBS News. Adams was found dead in Schotsche Kloof, Cape Town. A cause of death has not been established. Cape Town Central police registered an inquest for investigation after the discovery of the body, and the circumstances remain under investigation.

Adams' death comes only weeks after he represented South Africa at the 2026 World Cup. He started two of South Africa's three group-stage games and came off the bench in the 1-0 win over South Korea on June 24 that sent South Africa into the knockout rounds for the first time in the country's history. He was an unused substitute when South Africa were eliminated by Canada on June 28. The tournament was one of the most visible moments of his international career.

Adams played several seasons for Stellenbosch FC before joining Mamelodi Sundowns last year, coming through the Stellenbosch youth development structures before the move. At club level, he was part of the Mamelodi Sundowns side that won the CAF Champions League in May 2026. That continental title, followed by his World Cup role, made 2026 a major year in his career.

South Africa's Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, expressed condolences after Adams' death. The South African Football Players Union also issued a tribute, saying South African football had lost a gifted player and a young life with much still ahead of it. FIFA President Gianni Infantino offered condolences as well. Those statements reflect the public reaction from football and government officials while the inquest remains open.

Adams had become part of a South Africa squad that delivered a historic World Cup run. The national team reached the knockout stage for the first time after the group-stage win over South Korea. Adams' substitute appearance in that match gave him a place in one of the country's most important tournament results. His role in the squad connects his death not only to club football in South Africa, but also to the national team's recent international breakthrough.

The police investigation remains the central unresolved issue. The available reporting says Adams was found dead in Schotsche Kloof and that Cape Town Central police opened an inquest. An inquest does not by itself establish criminal conduct or a cause of death. It is a formal process for investigating the circumstances when a death requires official review. Until authorities release further information, the cause remains unknown and the matter remains under investigation.

The next developments to watch are whether Cape Town police release additional information from the inquest, whether Adams' family or club announces funeral arrangements, and whether Mamelodi Sundowns or the South African Football Association issues further statements. For now, the public record is limited: Jayden Adams, a 25-year-old South Africa international and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder, has died, and police have opened an inquest after his body was found in Cape Town.

Fact-check date: 12 July 2026
Article type: News
Sources: ESPN; Sky Sports; Al Jazeera; CNN; CBS News; Reuters