'South Africa must withdraw from the World Cup' — Calls rise for Bafana Bafana to be excluded from showpiece

South African politician Julius Malema has called on Bafana Bafana to withdraw from the 2026 FIFA World Cup in protest against a sweeping United States visa ban.

The outspoken EFF leftist-leader insists Africa cannot treat global football as “business as usual” amid policies he believes discriminate against the continent.

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) president Julius Malema has sparked widespread debate after urging the South African Football Association (SAFA) to pull Bafana Bafana out of the World Cup scheduled to be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

In recent commentary, Malema said, “South Africa, Bafana Bafana must officially withdraw, SAFA must take a decision to withdraw from having anything to do with the World Cup that is taking place in America.”

The fiery politician, known for his radical positions, doubled down on his stance by calling for a total boycott of the United States. “We must boycott the World Cup in America and boycott anything that has got to do with America because we cannot sit back and allow a person to destabilise the world and it becomes business as usual,” he added.

Malema, a former ANC Youth League president who founded the EFF in 2013, has long positioned himself as a vocal critic of Western policies he views as oppressive to African nations.

Malema’s comments come after the United States announced it would suspend immigrant visa processing for 75 countries as part of a new immigration crackdown.

The pause, set to begin on January 21, will remain in place indefinitely while screening procedures are reviewed.

According to a State Department memo, consular officers have been instructed to refuse visas under existing law. State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott said, “Immigration from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassess immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits.”

Although South Africa is not on the list, several African nations affected, including Nigeria. Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Senegal, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Tunisia, and Algeria, who were also listed in the ban have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, raising concerns about fan attendance and even player access.

With DR Congo also close to qualification, fears are growing that the tournament could be overshadowed by political and logistical challenges rather than football alone.