CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Police said Monday they are investigating the death of South Africa World Cup soccer player Jayden Adams, after his body was discovered this weekend at a property in the city of Cape Town.
The 25-year-old Adams died two weeks after helping South Africa reach the knockout stage of a World Cup for the first time.
Authorities have not released a cause of death.
"Cape Town central police registered an inquest for investigation following the discovery of the body of a 25-year-old male on Saturday," police said in a statement sent to The Associated Press. “Circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation.”
Police said the body was discovered at a property in the Cape Town neighborhood of Schotsche Kloof at around 11 a.m. on Saturday, but gave no more details.
Adams' father, Juanito Adams, told South African TV news station eNCA on Sunday that the family were waiting for the results of an autopsy and had not yet made any funeral plans.
“As you all know, it was an untimely death. The family is struggling to process it,” Juanito Adams said. “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.”
Adams played in all three of South Africa's group games as it produced its best performance at the World Cup. He did not feature in the 1-0 loss to Canada in the round of 32 on June 28.
South Africa Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie said Adams had played in his team's group game against Czech Republic hours after learning that his grandmother had died. McKenzie asked the public and media to “exercise restraint and compassion” and not speculate on the cause of Adams' death while authorities conduct an investigation.
There were moments of silence and tributes for Adams at the England vs. Norway and Argentina vs. Switzerland World Cup quarterfinal games on Saturday.
See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here
Players stand for a moment of silence for South Africa's Jayden Adams prior to the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Norway and England in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
A moment of silence is held in memory of South Africa player Jayden Adams prior to the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Argentina and Switzerland in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
FILE - South Africa's Jayden Adams during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Stew Milne, File)
BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Paul O’Donnell was struggling in the marathon on Sunday morning. The Irish fans got him home.
“It was incredible, to see green and the tricolors all over the course,” the Irishman said. “The support kept me going. It was much appreciated. It was just a roar, ‘Go Ireland, go Paul.'"
Whether waving flags or roaring for their athletes, Irish fans have made their mark at the European championships in Birmingham. Ireland's athletes have taken note, as have broadcasters and organizers.
“It feels like a home championships,” O’Donnell, who finished 43rd, told The Associated Press.
The official Instagram account of the games, Birmingham 2026, posted: “Beginning to think the Irish fans are the best fans in Europe!" In another post, it added: “From Dublin to Birmingham and everywhere in between, they follow their athletes across the world, and the noise they bring is unmatched.”
Kate O'Connor won the heptathlon on Saturday to double Ireland's gold tally. Mark English had won the 800-meter final on Thursday, followed minutes later by a silver medal for Rhasidat Adeleke in the 200 meters. Andrew Coscoran picked up a bronze in the 1,500.
Husband-wife duo Eoin Murphy and Emma McNelis of Dublin were in Alexander Stadium to see O’Connor complete her heptathlon victory.
“It feels like there’s as many Irish as British here — at the stadium,” McNelis said as they watched the marathon.
Murphy bought an Irish flag at the Dublin airport for their weekend trip. For him, Coscoran's bronze was the highlight "because it was so surprising. He was in the middle of the pack for most of it.”
In interviews with Athletics Ireland, Irish competitors marveled at the support they’ve received in Birmingham.
O’Connor described the experience as “probably the closest we’ll ever get to a home games.”
“It’s a championships that I’ll obviously never forget for winning gold but also never forget the roars, the cheers, the support,” she said. “I’ve never experienced anything like that before.”
“Seeing so many kids as well out there that are screaming for autographs and photos," O’Connor added, "it kind of makes you realize the effect that you have on the country by, I don’t know, running, jumping, throwing, doing all those events as well as you can.”
Ireland's medal haul for the championships stayed at four. Sarah Healy and Sophie O’Sullivan competed in the 1,500 final Sunday night but finished outside the top three.
In an annual survey, champion boxer Katie Taylor regularly tops the list as Ireland’s “most admired athlete” despite boxing not ranking among the favorite sports. Gaelic Games topped the list just ahead of soccer, with rugby third and "athletics/tennis" fourth in the 2025 edition of the Teneo Sport and Sponsorship Index.
Athletics stars from this week will likely get some love in the next version.
Adeleke was second to Taylor in the 2024 survey after winning a gold medal and two silver medals at the 2024 European championships in Rome.
This week, the 23-year-old Adeleke said she felt like she was home thanks to the Irish fans.
“Definitely trumped any other nation that was out there. So loud, so supportive,” she said.
Adeleke's silver on Thursday came shortly after English's gold.
“Twenty minutes, two medals. That’s a great night out for us.”
See full AP coverage of European sports here
Iris fans cheer during the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, England, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Ireland's Andrew Coscoran celebrates winning the bronze medal in the men's 1,500 meters final at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Morgan Harlow)
Amy Hunt of Britain celebrates winning the gold medal with Rhasidat Adeleke of Ireland, who took the silver, in the women's 200 meters final at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, England, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Mark English of Ireland celebrates after winning the gold medal in the men's 800 meters final at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, England, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Ireland's Kate O'Connor celebrates after winning the gold medal in the heptathlon at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Ireland's Kate O'Connor celebrates after winning the gold medal in the heptathlon at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
