Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has reacted to FIFA’s ruling to deduct three points from Bafana Bafana in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers and the fine of about R215,000 for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in the match against Lesotho in March.
He says the developments are deeply regrettable and has brought embarrassment to the nation and the game of football.
He acknowledges that this situation has brought South Africa into disrepute, and his department will launch a full investigation into the incompetence that led to this sanction.
However, he called on all South Africans to rally behind Bafana Bafana as they prepare for their crucial final two qualifiers in Durban and Mbombela against Rwanda and Nigeria – matches Bafana must win if they want to qualify for next year’s World Cup in the Americas.
<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/canadian-passport-on-united-states-national-flag-background-close-up.jpg?id=61317386&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=45%2C0%2C45%2C0"/><br/><br/><p>Your <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/passport-canada" target="_blank">Canadian passport</a><a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/passport-canada"> passport</a> isn't holding as much power as it used to.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/canada-passport-global-ranking-2025" target="_blank">2025 Henley Passport Index</a> just got its mid-year update, and while Canada managed to stay ahead of <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/us-border-canda-fee" target="_blank">the United States</a>., both countries are quietly slipping. Fewer visa-free destinations, lower rankings, and a growing gap between North America and the rest of the global pack paint a less-than-ideal picture for international mobility.</p><p>Here's how Canada stacks up now — and who's pulling ahead.</p><p><span></span>In the latest Henley Passport Index update, Canada dropped from 7th to 8th place and lost visa-free access to four countries. Canadian passport holders can now enter 184 destinations without needing a visa, down from 188 just six months ago.</p><p>The U.S. saw a similar slide, falling from 9th to 10th place with visa-free access to 182 destinations. Both countries are now among the index’s biggest fallers of the past decade. Since 2015, Canada has dropped four spots overall, while the U.S. has dropped eight.</p><p>Singapore continues to hold the number one position, while a mix of European and Asia-Pacific nations dominate the top five. Here's how the current top 10 ranks:</p><p><strong>2025 Henley Passport Index (July update) — Top 10 passports:</strong></p> <ul> <li> <strong>1st</strong> – Singapore (193 destinations)</li> <li> <strong>2nd</strong> – Japan, South Korea (190)</li> <li> <strong>3rd</strong> – Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain (189)</li> <li> <strong>4th</strong> – Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden (188)</li> <li> <strong>5th</strong> – Greece, New Zealand, Switzerland (187)</li> <li> <strong>6th</strong> – United Kingdom (186)</li> <li> <strong>7th</strong> – Australia, Czechia, Hungary, Malta, Poland (185)</li> <li> <strong>8th</strong> – Canada, Estonia, United Arab Emirates (184)</li> <li> <strong>9th</strong> – Croatia, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia (183)</li> <li> <strong>10th</strong> – Iceland, Lithuania, United States (182)</li> </ul> <p>The firm behind the index says the rankings reflect more than just travel perks. They represent a country's ability to secure diplomatic relationships and negotiate visa-free agreements. Countries that do this well move up the list. Countries that don't (including Canada) tend to fall behind.</p><p>"The consolidation we're seeing at the top underscores that access is earned, and must be maintained, through active and strategic diplomacy," said Henley chair Dr. Christian Kaelin in the official release.</p><p>The UAE is a good example of that shift. It now shares 8th place with Canada after jumping 34 spots in the last decade. China has also climbed rapidly, moving up from 94th to 60th since 2015, thanks in part to a wave of new visa waivers and regional partnerships.</p><p>Despite Canada's decline, 184 visa-free destinations is still among the highest in the world. But in a fast-changing global landscape, the margin for comfort is getting smaller.</p><p>You can view the full July 2025 rankings <a href="https://www.henleyglobal.com/passport-index/ranking" target="_blank">here</a>. </p><p><em>Love this? Check out our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/notices/" target="_blank">MTL Blog noticeboard</a> for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!</em></p><p><em>AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog's Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/editorial-standards" target="_blank">Editorial Standards page</a>.</em></p>
