World Cup 2026: South Africa embrace historic opener against Mexico at Estadio Azteca

The South Africa senior men’s national team is preparing for a landmark moment in their football history as they gear up to face 2026 FIFA World Cup co-hosts Mexico in the tournament’s opening match at the iconic Estadio Azteca on Thursday, 11 June 2026.

The clash, set to be watched by millions worldwide, will also draw a packed crowd in Mexico City as the global football spectacle finally gets underway after four years of anticipation.

South Africa head coach Hugo Broos acknowledged the magnitude of the occasion, particularly for a squad experiencing this level of atmosphere for the first time.

“It will be a special and fantastic experience for us because my players have never played in this kind of situation before,” he said.

He stressed the importance of discipline amid the intense environment expected at the stadium, where the majority of support will be firmly behind the hosts.

“It will be very important for us to stick to the game plan and not listen to what is happening in the stands. We all know that there will be thousands of Mexicans inside the stadium and maybe a few South Africans,” Broos added.

Despite the overwhelming home support expected for Mexico, Broos insisted Bafana Bafana will draw motivation from fans back home.

“We know that we have the support of the nation and we felt it in the last few days, and last week when we started the preparations in South Africa. All of South Africa is supporting us. This is something we have to remember on Thursday when the game starts, that we are playing for our nation.”

The team has already settled into their base camp in Pachuca, Mexico, where preparations have been running smoothly since arrival earlier this week. They are scheduled to travel to Mexico City on Tuesday ahead of their historic World Cup opener.