Mexico host South Africa in the FIFA World Cup on 11 June 2026, Thursday. Get our free predictions, betting tips, odds insights, team form guide & H2H stats for this clash. This fixture is scheduled to kicks off at 20:00 UK Time.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway on Thursday June 11 as Mexico host South Africa in the tournament opener at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City. It is a historic occasion. The Azteca becomes the first stadium to stage a World Cup opening match three times, following 1970 and 1986.
Mexico carry the weight of a nation. Co-hosts and heavy favourites, Javier Aguirre’s side have not progressed beyond the group stage since 2018 and the pressure to deliver on home soil is immense.
South Africa return to the World Cup for the first time since hosting it in 2010. Hugo Broos has built a compact, organised unit, but the altitude of Mexico City and the wall of noise inside the Azteca present a formidable double challenge for Bafana Bafana.
Mexico go into the tournament in encouraging form and it has to be said that form arrived in time for the El Tri. In May warm-ups, they started off with a win over Ghana 2-0 with a heavily rotated squad and followed that with a 1-0 win over Australia on May 31. When Aguirre got his main men back, it resulted in a 5-1 thumping win over Serbia on 5th May.
Another good news for Javier Aguirre is the return of captain Edson Alvarez, who returned from ankle surgery in February, featured for 60 minutes against Australia followed by 2 full-second half appearances against Australia and Serbia. That is a positive sign for El Tri ahead of the opener.
Mexico qualified automatically as a co-host nation and have been building momentum through the CONCACAF Gold Cup, winning back-to-back titles. They are playing all three group games on home soil, two at the Azteca and one in Guadalajara.
The tournament organisers have rewarded a potential group win by routing the Group A winner through the Azteca for the Round of 32 and Round of 16.
South Africa topped CAF Group C in qualifying, finishing ahead of Nigeria and Benin with a decisive 3-0 win over Rwanda on the final matchday. It was a composed, disciplined campaign that reflected how far Broos has taken this side. However, the step up to a World Cup group opener against a co-host nation is significant.
However, their recent preparation has been less convincing. Draws against Nicaragua and Jamaica suggest Bafana Bafana are still searching for greater attacking sharpness ahead of the tournament.
The altitude of Mexico City may also become a major factor. With many members of the South African squad playing their club football at sea level, adapting to conditions more than 2,200 metres above sea level could be challenging, particularly during the latter stages of the match.
Mexico and South Africa have met only twice in competitive matches the Bafana Bafana earned positive results on both occasions. Their most significant encounter came in the opening match of the 2010 World Cup, played in Johannesburg when South Africa were hosts.
Siphiwe Tshabalala’s thunderous opener remains one of the most iconic goals in World Cup history. Mexico equalised through Rafael Marquez to earn a 1-1 draw.
South Africa also early a shocking 2-1 in the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup and this make them hold on to a 1 win 1 draw record from 2 competitive matches against the El Tri.
The head-to-head record offers South Africa encouragement, but the conditions and context of this fixture are entirely different.
The best bet for this match is HT/FT Mexico/Mexico at 2.20 odds. Mexico possess greater individual quality, arrive in stronger form and should be well equipped to take advantage of the conditions in Mexico City. South Africa are a disciplined side, but sustaining their defensive structure for the entire match against a confident host nation will be difficult.
From the player markets, I see good value in backing Raul Jimenez to score anytime at 2.20 odds. The experienced forward looked sharp during Mexico’s preparations and arrives after scoring twice against Serbia. His movement inside the penalty area could prove decisive against a South African defence expected to spend long periods without possession.
Our recommended correct score tip is Mexico 2-0 priced at 10.00 odds. World Cup opening matches are often cautious affairs, but Mexico’s superior attacking quality and strong home advantage should allow them to create enough opportunities to secure a comfortable victory while keeping South Africa at bay.
| Mexico | South Africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Game Played | 0 | 0 |
| Wins | 0 | 0 |
| Draws | 0 | 0 |
| Loss | 0 | 0 |
| Goals For | 0 | 0 |
| Goals Against | 0 | 0 |
| Mexico | South Africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Game Played | 0 | 0 |
| Wins | 0 | 0 |
| Draws | 0 | 0 |
| Loss | 0 | 0 |
| Goals For | 0 | 0 |
| Goals Against | 0 | 0 |
|
05.06.26
|
Mexico Serbia |
5-1 |
|
31.05.26
|
Mexico Australia |
1-0 |
|
23.05.26
|
Mexico Ghana |
2-0 |
|
01.04.26
|
Mexico Belgium |
1-1 |
|
29.03.26
|
Mexico Portugal |
0-0 |
|
26.02.26
|
Mexico Iceland |
4-0 |
|
25.01.26
|
Bolivia Mexico |
0-1 |
|
23.01.26
|
Panama Mexico |
0-1 |
|
19.11.25
|
Mexico Paraguay |
1-2 |
|
16.11.25
|
Mexico Uruguay |
0-0 |
|
15.10.25
|
Mexico Ecuador |
1-1 |
|
12.10.25
|
Mexico Colombia |
0-4 |
|
10.09.25
|
Mexico South Korea |
2-2 |
|
07.09.25
|
Mexico Japan |
0-0 |
|
07.07.25
|
USA Mexico |
1-2 |
|
03.07.25
|
Mexico Honduras |
1-0 |
|
29.06.25
|
Mexico Saudi Arabia |
2-0 |
|
23.06.25
|
Mexico Costa Rica |
0-0 |
|
19.06.25
|
Suriname Mexico |
0-2 |
|
15.06.25
|
Mexico Dominican Republic |
3-2 |
|
11.06.25
|
Mexico Turkey |
1-0 |
|
07.06.25
|
Mexico Switzerland |
2-4 |
|
24.03.25
|
Mexico Panama |
2-1 |
|
21.03.25
|
Canada Mexico |
0-2 |
|
20.11.24
|
Mexico Honduras |
4-0 |
|
16.11.24
|
Honduras Mexico |
2-0 |
|
16.10.24
|
Mexico USA |
2-0 |
|
11.09.24
|
Mexico Canada |
0-0 |
|
08.09.24
|
Mexico New Zealand |
3-0 |
|
01.07.24
|
Mexico Ecuador |
0-0 |
|
27.06.24
|
Venezuela Mexico |
1-0 |
|
23.06.24
|
Mexico Jamaica |
1-0 |
|
09.06.24
|
Mexico Brazil |
2-3 |
|
06.06.24
|
Mexico Uruguay |
0-4 |
|
01.06.24
|
Mexico Bolivia |
1-0 |
|
25.03.24
|
Mexico USA |
0-2 |
|
22.03.24
|
Panama Mexico |
0-3 |
|
17.12.23
|
Mexico Colombia |
2-3 |
|
22.11.23
|
Mexico Honduras (Penalties:4 - 2) |
2-0 |
|
18.11.23
|
Honduras Mexico |
2-0 |
|
18.10.23
|
Mexico Germany |
2-2 |
|
15.10.23
|
Mexico Ghana |
2-0 |
|
13.09.23
|
Mexico Uzbekistan |
3-3 |
|
10.09.23
|
Mexico Australia |
2-2 |
|
17.07.23
|
Mexico Panama |
1-0 |
|
13.07.23
|
Jamaica Mexico |
0-3 |
|
09.07.23
|
Mexico Costa Rica |
2-0 |
|
03.07.23
|
Mexico Qatar |
0-1 |
|
30.06.23
|
Haiti Mexico |
1-3 |
|
26.06.23
|
Mexico Honduras |
4-0 |
|
05.06.26
|
Mexico Serbia |
5-1 |
|
31.05.26
|
Mexico Australia |
1-0 |
|
23.05.26
|
Mexico Ghana |
2-0 |
|
01.04.26
|
Mexico Belgium |
1-1 |
|
29.03.26
|
Mexico Portugal |
0-0 |
|
26.02.26
|
Mexico Iceland |
4-0 |
|
19.11.25
|
Mexico Paraguay |
1-2 |
|
16.11.25
|
Mexico Uruguay |
0-0 |
|
15.10.25
|
Mexico Ecuador |
1-1 |
|
12.10.25
|
Mexico Colombia |
0-4 |
|
10.09.25
|
Mexico South Korea |
2-2 |
|
07.09.25
|
Mexico Japan |
0-0 |
|
03.07.25
|
Mexico Honduras |
1-0 |
|
29.06.25
|
Mexico Saudi Arabia |
2-0 |
|
23.06.25
|
Mexico Costa Rica |
0-0 |
|
15.06.25
|
Mexico Dominican Republic |
3-2 |
|
11.06.25
|
Mexico Turkey |
1-0 |
|
07.06.25
|
Mexico Switzerland |
2-4 |
|
24.03.25
|
Mexico Panama |
2-1 |
|
20.11.24
|
Mexico Honduras |
4-0 |
|
16.10.24
|
Mexico USA |
2-0 |
|
11.09.24
|
Mexico Canada |
0-0 |
|
08.09.24
|
Mexico New Zealand |
3-0 |
|
01.07.24
|
Mexico Ecuador |
0-0 |
|
23.06.24
|
Mexico Jamaica |
1-0 |
|
09.06.24
|
Mexico Brazil |
2-3 |
|
06.06.24
|
Mexico Uruguay |
0-4 |
|
01.06.24
|
Mexico Bolivia |
1-0 |
|
25.03.24
|
Mexico USA |
0-2 |
|
17.12.23
|
Mexico Colombia |
2-3 |
|
22.11.23
|
Mexico Honduras (Penalties:4 - 2) |
2-0 |
|
18.10.23
|
Mexico Germany |
2-2 |
|
15.10.23
|
Mexico Ghana |
2-0 |
|
12.09.23
|
Mexico Uzbekistan |
3-3 |
|
10.09.23
|
Mexico Australia |
2-2 |
|
16.07.23
|
Mexico Panama |
1-0 |
|
09.07.23
|
Mexico Costa Rica |
2-0 |
|
03.07.23
|
Mexico Qatar |
0-1 |
|
26.06.23
|
Mexico Honduras |
4-0 |
|
11.06.23
|
Mexico Cameroon |
2-2 |
|
08.06.23
|
Mexico Guatemala |
2-0 |
|
27.03.23
|
Mexico Jamaica |
2-2 |
|
22.11.22
|
Mexico Poland |
0-0 |
|
16.11.22
|
Mexico Sweden |
1-2 |
|
09.11.22
|
Mexico Iraq |
4-0 |
|
28.09.22
|
Mexico Colombia |
2-3 |
|
25.09.22
|
Mexico Peru |
1-0 |
|
01.09.22
|
Mexico Paraguay |
0-1 |
|
12.06.22
|
Mexico Suriname |
3-0 |
|
05.06.22
|
Mexico Ecuador |
0-0 |
|
25.01.26
|
Bolivia Mexico |
0-1 |
|
23.01.26
|
Panama Mexico |
0-1 |
|
06.07.25
|
USA Mexico |
1-2 |
|
19.06.25
|
Suriname Mexico |
0-2 |
|
21.03.25
|
Canada Mexico |
0-2 |
|
16.11.24
|
Honduras Mexico |
2-0 |
|
27.06.24
|
Venezuela Mexico |
1-0 |
|
22.03.24
|
Panama Mexico |
0-3 |
|
18.11.23
|
Honduras Mexico |
2-0 |
|
13.07.23
|
Jamaica Mexico |
0-3 |
|
30.06.23
|
Haiti Mexico |
1-3 |
|
18.06.23
|
Panama Mexico |
0-1 |
|
16.06.23
|
USA Mexico |
3-0 |
|
20.04.23
|
USA Mexico |
1-1 |
|
24.03.23
|
Suriname Mexico |
0-2 |
|
30.11.22
|
Saudi Arabia Mexico |
1-2 |
|
26.11.22
|
Argentina Mexico |
2-0 |
|
15.06.22
|
Jamaica Mexico |
1-1 |
|
27.03.22
|
Honduras Mexico |
0-1 |
|
28.01.22
|
Jamaica Mexico |
1-2 |
|
17.11.21
|
Canada Mexico |
2-1 |
|
13.11.21
|
USA Mexico |
2-0 |
|
14.10.21
|
El Salvador Mexico |
0-2 |
|
09.09.21
|
Panama Mexico |
1-1 |
|
05.09.21
|
Costa Rica Mexico |
0-1 |
|
02.08.21
|
USA Mexico |
1-0 |
|
15.07.21
|
Guatemala Mexico |
0-3 |
|
07.06.21
|
USA Mexico |
3-2 |
|
30.03.21
|
Costa Rica Mexico |
0-1 |
|
27.03.21
|
Wales Mexico |
1-0 |
|
17.11.20
|
Japan Mexico |
0-2 |
|
07.10.20
|
Netherlands Mexico |
0-1 |
|
11.09.19
|
Argentina Mexico |
4-0 |
|
03.07.19
|
Haiti Mexico |
0-1 |
|
29.05.26
|
South Africa Nicaragua |
0-0 |
|
31.03.26
|
South Africa Panama |
1-2 |
|
27.03.26
|
South Africa Panama |
1-1 |
|
04.01.26
|
South Africa Cameroon |
1-2 |
|
29.12.25
|
Zimbabwe South Africa |
2-3 |
|
26.12.25
|
Egypt South Africa |
1-0 |
|
22.12.25
|
South Africa Angola |
2-1 |
|
16.12.25
|
South Africa Ghana B |
1-0 |
|
15.11.25
|
South Africa Zambia |
3-1 |
|
14.10.25
|
South Africa Rwanda |
3-0 |
|
10.10.25
|
Zimbabwe South Africa |
0-0 |
|
09.09.25
|
South Africa Nigeria |
1-1 |
|
05.09.25
|
Lesotho South Africa |
0-3 |
|
18.08.25
|
South Africa Uganda |
3-3 |
|
15.08.25
|
Niger South Africa |
0-0 |
|
11.08.25
|
South Africa Guinea |
2-1 |
|
08.08.25
|
Algeria South Africa |
1-1 |
|
15.06.25
|
Angola South Africa |
3-0 |
|
13.06.25
|
South Africa Comoros |
3-1 |
|
10.06.25
|
South Africa Mozambique |
2-0 |
|
10.06.25
|
South Africa Mauritius |
0-0 |
|
07.06.25
|
South Africa Zimbabwe |
2-0 |
|
06.06.25
|
South Africa Tanzania |
0-0 |
|
04.06.25
|
South Africa Mozambique |
0-1 |
|
11.05.25
|
South Africa Malawi |
2-0 |
|
03.05.25
|
Malawi South Africa |
1-0 |
|
25.03.25
|
Benin South Africa |
0-2 |
|
21.03.25
|
South Africa Lesotho |
0-3 |
|
09.03.25
|
Egypt South Africa |
1-3 |
|
02.03.25
|
South Africa Egypt |
1-1 |
|
19.11.24
|
South Africa South Sudan |
3-0 |
|
15.11.24
|
Uganda South Africa |
0-2 |
|
15.10.24
|
Congo South Africa |
1-1 |
|
11.10.24
|
South Africa Congo |
5-0 |
|
10.09.24
|
South Sudan South Africa |
2-3 |
|
06.09.24
|
South Africa Uganda |
2-2 |
|
02.07.24
|
South Africa Eswatini |
1-0 |
|
29.06.24
|
South Africa Botswana |
0-0 |
|
26.06.24
|
South Africa Mozambique |
1-1 |
|
11.06.24
|
South Africa Zimbabwe |
3-1 |
|
07.06.24
|
Nigeria South Africa |
1-1 |
|
26.03.24
|
Algeria South Africa |
3-3 |
|
21.03.24
|
Andorra South Africa |
1-1 |
|
10.02.24
|
South Africa DR Congo (Penalties:6 - 5) |
0-0 |
|
07.02.24
|
Nigeria South Africa (Penalties:4 - 2) |
1-1 |
|
03.02.24
|
Cape Verde South Africa (Penalties:1 - 2) |
0-0 |
|
30.01.24
|
Morocco South Africa |
0-2 |
|
24.01.24
|
South Africa Tunisia |
0-0 |
|
21.01.24
|
South Africa Namibia |
4-0 |
|
16.01.24
|
Mali South Africa |
2-0 |
|
29.05.26
|
South Africa Nicaragua |
0-0 |
|
31.03.26
|
South Africa Panama |
1-2 |
|
27.03.26
|
South Africa Panama |
1-1 |
|
04.01.26
|
South Africa Cameroon |
1-2 |
|
22.12.25
|
South Africa Angola |
2-1 |
|
16.12.25
|
South Africa Ghana B |
1-0 |
|
15.11.25
|
South Africa Zambia |
3-1 |
|
14.10.25
|
South Africa Rwanda |
3-0 |
|
09.09.25
|
South Africa Nigeria |
1-1 |
|
18.08.25
|
South Africa Uganda |
3-3 |
|
11.08.25
|
South Africa Guinea |
2-1 |
|
13.06.25
|
South Africa Comoros |
3-1 |
|
10.06.25
|
South Africa Mozambique |
2-0 |
|
10.06.25
|
South Africa Mauritius |
0-0 |
|
07.06.25
|
South Africa Zimbabwe |
2-0 |
|
06.06.25
|
South Africa Tanzania |
0-0 |
|
04.06.25
|
South Africa Mozambique |
0-1 |
|
11.05.25
|
South Africa Malawi |
2-0 |
|
21.03.25
|
South Africa Lesotho |
0-3 |
|
02.03.25
|
South Africa Egypt |
1-1 |
|
19.11.24
|
South Africa South Sudan |
3-0 |
|
11.10.24
|
South Africa Congo |
5-0 |
|
06.09.24
|
South Africa Uganda |
2-2 |
|
02.07.24
|
South Africa Eswatini |
1-0 |
|
29.06.24
|
South Africa Botswana |
0-0 |
|
26.06.24
|
South Africa Mozambique |
1-1 |
|
11.06.24
|
South Africa Zimbabwe |
3-1 |
|
10.02.24
|
South Africa DR Congo (Penalties:6 - 5) |
0-0 |
|
24.01.24
|
South Africa Tunisia |
0-0 |
|
21.01.24
|
South Africa Namibia |
4-0 |
|
10.01.24
|
South Africa Lesotho |
0-0 |
|
18.11.23
|
South Africa Benin |
2-1 |
|
13.10.23
|
South Africa Eswatini |
0-0 |
|
12.09.23
|
South Africa DR Congo |
1-0 |
|
09.09.23
|
South Africa Namibia |
0-0 |
|
14.07.23
|
South Africa Zambia |
1-2 |
|
11.07.23
|
South Africa Eswatini |
2-1 |
|
08.07.23
|
South Africa Botswana |
2-1 |
|
05.07.23
|
South Africa Namibia |
1-1 |
|
17.06.23
|
South Africa Morocco |
2-1 |
|
24.03.23
|
South Africa Liberia |
2-2 |
|
20.11.22
|
South Africa Angola |
1-1 |
|
17.11.22
|
South Africa Mozambique |
2-1 |
|
27.09.22
|
South Africa Botswana |
1-0 |
|
24.09.22
|
South Africa Sierra Leone |
4-0 |
|
17.07.22
|
South Africa Botswana |
2-1 |
|
13.07.22
|
South Africa Mozambique (Penalties:4 - 5) |
0-0 |
|
25.03.22
|
South Africa Guinea |
0-0 |
|
11.11.21
|
South Africa Zimbabwe |
1-0 |
|
12.10.21
|
South Africa Ethiopia |
1-0 |
|
29.12.25
|
Zimbabwe South Africa |
2-3 |
|
26.12.25
|
Egypt South Africa |
1-0 |
|
10.10.25
|
Zimbabwe South Africa |
0-0 |
|
05.09.25
|
Lesotho South Africa |
0-3 |
|
15.08.25
|
Niger South Africa |
0-0 |
|
08.08.25
|
Algeria South Africa |
1-1 |
|
15.06.25
|
Angola South Africa |
3-0 |
|
03.05.25
|
Malawi South Africa |
1-0 |
|
25.03.25
|
Benin South Africa |
0-2 |
|
09.03.25
|
Egypt South Africa |
1-3 |
|
15.11.24
|
Uganda South Africa |
0-2 |
|
15.10.24
|
Congo South Africa |
1-1 |
|
10.09.24
|
South Sudan South Africa |
2-3 |
|
07.06.24
|
Nigeria South Africa |
1-1 |
|
26.03.24
|
Algeria South Africa |
3-3 |
|
21.03.24
|
Andorra South Africa |
1-1 |
|
07.02.24
|
Nigeria South Africa (Penalties:4 - 2) |
1-1 |
|
03.02.24
|
Cape Verde South Africa (Penalties:1 - 2) |
0-0 |
|
30.01.24
|
Morocco South Africa |
0-2 |
|
16.01.24
|
Mali South Africa |
2-0 |
|
21.11.23
|
Rwanda South Africa |
2-0 |
|
17.10.23
|
Ivory Coast South Africa |
1-1 |
|
16.07.23
|
Malawi South Africa (Penalties:3 - 5) |
0-0 |
|
28.03.23
|
Liberia South Africa |
1-2 |
|
15.07.22
|
Madagascar South Africa |
1-2 |
|
09.06.22
|
Morocco South Africa |
2-1 |
|
29.03.22
|
France South Africa |
5-0 |
|
14.11.21
|
Ghana South Africa |
1-0 |
|
09.10.21
|
Ethiopia South Africa |
1-3 |
|
03.09.21
|
Zimbabwe South Africa |
0-0 |
|
28.03.21
|
Sudan South Africa |
2-0 |
|
16.11.20
|
Sao Tome and Principe South Africa |
2-4 |
|
14.11.19
|
Ghana South Africa |
2-0 |
|
28.07.19
|
Lesotho South Africa |
3-2 |
|
10.07.19
|
Nigeria South Africa |
2-1 |
|
06.07.19
|
Egypt South Africa |
0-1 |
|
24.06.19
|
Ivory Coast South Africa |
1-0 |
|
15.06.19
|
Ghana South Africa |
0-0 |
|
24.03.19
|
Libya South Africa |
1-2 |
|
16.10.18
|
Seychelles South Africa |
0-0 |
|
01.09.17
|
Cape Verde South Africa |
2-1 |
|
14.07.17
|
Botswana South Africa |
0-2 |
|
11.06.2010
|
South Africa Mexico |
1-1
|