The 2026 World Cup opens on 11 June at Estadio Azteca with co hosts Mexico taking on South Africa in Group A, in front of a sold out home crowd at altitude. Mexico come in smarting from a 2022 group stage exit and know they can't afford another slow start, whereas South Africa are making their first World Cup appearance since they hosted it in 2010. A group containing South Korea and Czechia means both teams could use a win here and with Mexico ranked considerably above them and playing at home at altitude, Aguirre's side start as heavy favourites.
Javier Aguirre is in his third stint as Mexico manager, having previously taken the job at the 2002 and 2010 tournaments, while Hugo Broos has been in charge of South Africa since 2021. The two have never met in a competitive fixture, so there is no head to head form to lean on. Mexico lead the all time series, winning two of four meetings, with the most memorable results being a 4-0 win in 1993 and a 1-1 draw when the sides last met at the 2010 World Cup.
Mexico's pre tournament preparation included friendlies against Portugal, Belgium and Australia, winning the last of those 1-0 while keeping a clean sheet. South Africa's build up was rougher, with a 0-1 defeat to Jamaica on 7 June and a goalless draw with Nicaragua in late May, those games being more about building familiarity than winning. There are no major suspensions on either side and Aubrey Modiba is back from a hamstring injury for South Africa, steadying their defensive shape. Mexico arrived at the tournament with a messier fitness picture, with Edson Álvarez recovering from ankle surgery and Santiago Giménez and Luis Chávez also carrying concerns, though the 26 man squad is mostly fit. Guillermo Ochoa is here for a sixth World Cup, which is frankly remarkable and Gilberto Mora gets his first call up. Mexico are expected to line up with Rangel in goal behind Gallardo, Vasquez, Montes and Reyes, with South Africa going Williams, Mudau, Okon, Mbokazi and Modiba across the back.
Aguirre's Mexico press hard, transition quickly and don't particularly care about possession, a style that suits the Azteca's high energy atmosphere well. Broos has South Africa organised compactly around counter attacks, relying on a largely domestic squad that already knows each other's runs. The midfield battle between Álvarez, Lira and Fidalgo against Mokoena, Sithole and Mbatha will go a long way to deciding who controls the game and the Gallardo against Modiba and Reyes against Mudau matchups on the flanks will be worth watching. Raúl Jiménez will be looking to exploit the Okon and Mbokazi centre back pairing in the air.
Altitude and a packed Azteca will test South African legs over 90 minutes and Mexico's set piece delivery gives them another route through a compact defence. Broos has announced he will retire after the tournament, making this South Africa's last run under the man who rebuilt them. Mexico should win this 1-0, most likely through a set piece but it won't be pretty.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
