World Cup 2026: South Africa ‘know what to do’ against Mexico, says Hugo Broos

South Africa head coach Hugo Broos says his side is tactically prepared for their opening match against Mexico at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Bafana Bafana face the co-hosts on Thursday, 11 June, in the tournament’s opening fixture, with Broos expressing confidence in his team’s readiness following final preparations.

“We know what to do against Mexico,” Broos said in a pre-match interview. “We understand how to approach the game when they have possession and when we have the ball. The final details will be addressed in our next two training sessions. Everything is focused on this match.”

The Belgian tactician acknowledged the challenge posed by Mexico, describing them as a cohesive and dynamic side.

“They are a very good team, with movement and strong unity,” he added. “You can see their ambition to become world champions in the way they play. We will need to perform at our highest level if we want to get a result.”

Thursday’s Group A encounter will echo the opening match of the 2010 World Cup, also between the two nations, which ended in a 1-1 draw. On that occasion, South Africa failed to progress beyond the group stage.

Now, under Broos, the team will aim to deliver a stronger campaign and rewrite that history on football’s biggest stage.