South Africa World Cup midfielder Adams dies at 25; police open investigation

South African footballer Jayden Adams, 25, of Mamelodi Sundowns, who represented his country at the 2026 North and Central America World Cup, has been found dead, prompting police to open an investigation.

According to AP and other international media reports Monday, Adams, a South Africa national team midfielder, was found dead at his home in Scottsdene, on the outskirts of Cape Town, on Saturday — roughly two weeks after South Africa reached the round of 16 for the first time in the country's World Cup history.

Cape Town police told AP they had launched an investigation into the death and were working to determine the exact circumstances. No further details were disclosed.

Adams' father, Juanito Adams, told local broadcaster eNCA that the family was awaiting autopsy results and that funeral arrangements had not yet been made. "The whole family is struggling to cope," he said. "People say it gets better with time, but it doesn't. You just learn to live with the pain."

Adams appeared in three matches for South Africa at the tournament. He started the group-stage games against the Czech Republic and Mexico, and came on as a substitute against South Korea.

South Africa's Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie said Adams had played in the group-stage match against the Czech Republic just hours after learning of his grandmother's death. McKenzie urged the public to refrain from speculating about the cause of death while authorities continued their investigation, and called for restraint and mourning.

Adams rose to prominence at Stellenbosch FC before joining Mamelodi Sundowns, one of South Africa's top clubs, in January last year, and was subsequently called up to the national team. He is survived by his longtime partner, Aquila Adendorff, and their five-year-old daughter.