Police have opened an inquest into the sudden death of South African World Cup player Jayden Adams, who was found dead in Cape Town on Saturday. Unverified reports suggest the 25-year-old may have died by suicide, a claim his father, Juanito Adams, declined to confirm or deny when questioned by media.
"Cape Town central police registered an inquest for investigation following the discovery of the body of a 25-year-old male on Saturday," a police statement confirmed. "Circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation."
Juanito Adams acknowledged the family's grief, stating, "It won't be easy to carry on. People say it will become easier, but it won't. You just learn to live with it." He also noted the overwhelming support from the global football community.
Tlhopie Motsepe, chairperson of Adams' club Mamelodi Sundowns, visited the family to pay his respects. South Africa's Minister of Sport, Gayton McKenzie, urged the public and media to "exercise restraint and compassion, and to refrain from speculation."
FIFA president Gianni Infantino issued a tribute, calling Adams' passing "incredibly sad" and extending condolences to his family, friends, and teammates. "The Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns star will be sorely missed. May he rest in peace," Infantino stated.
Adams had recently featured twice for South Africa in the World Cup, helping the team reach the knockout stages for the first time, where they were ultimately defeated by Canada. He was part of the Mamelodi Sundowns team that won the South African Premiership in 2025 and the CAF Champions League in 2026.
In the weeks leading up to the World Cup, Adams was mourning the death of his grandmother, Marianna Adams, who passed away just two weeks before the tournament began. He was also still grieving the loss of a close friend, South African youth footballer Oshwin Andries, who died in 2023.
Adams' girlfriend, Aqueelah Adendorf, expressed her gratitude for the messages of support she has received. Her earlier post celebrating Adams' World Cup selection, in which she praised his hard work, discipline, and inspirational journey, has resurfaced. "I don’t think you even realize how inspiring you are. You deserve every single moment of this because I’ve seen how much you’ve worked for it," she had written.
The South African Football Players Union (SAFPU) released a statement expressing devastation at Adams' passing, calling it an "immeasurable loss" to his family, teammates, clubs, and the nation. The union remembered him as a "gifted player, a proud servant of the game and a young life that still had so much to offer."