South Africa soccer star Jayden Adams dead at 25 shortly after World Cup success
South Africa soccer star Jayden Adams died at the age of 25 just weeks after participating in the 2026 World Cup, according to the South African Football Players Union (SAFPU).The cause of death is not known, and South Africa police said they found a 25-year-old man inside a house in Cape Town on Saturday morning, according to BBC.“Jayden had only recently represented South Africa at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, carrying the hopes of the nation with pride, courage, and distinction,” the SAFPU said in a statement.“His passing is an immeasurable loss to his family, teammates, clubs, the football fraternity and country at large.“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.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.”Adams started two of South Africa’s three World Cup Group Stage games, and the midfielder played with a heavy heart with his grandmother, Marianna, dying during the tourney, per ESPN.He did not appear in the Round of 32 loss to Canada.Adams also made a name for himself playing for the Mamelodi Sundowns and Stellenbosch FC in the South African premiership.Every match of the FIFA World Cup will air on either FOX or FOX Sports 1.If you don’t have cable, you can take advantage of a DIRECTV free trial to stream it all.Prefer to check out the action live and in person? Shop World Cup 2026 tickets on SeatGeek and make sure to use promo code NYPOST10 for $10 off purchases over $250 at checkout if you’re a first-time SeatGeek user.He made 109 appearances and scored seven goals for Stellenbosch FC over six seasons, and played in 40 games for the Sundowns after joining the team in 2025.Adams helped South Africa secure its best finish in 24 years at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2024, when Bafana Bafana placed third.“It is with profound shock and a heavy heart that I have learnt of the passing of Jayden Adams,” Gayton McKenzie, South Africa’s minister of sport, arts and culture...