Mexico vs South Africa Match Details
Date | Thursday 11 June 2026 |
Kick-off | 20:00 BST |
Stadium | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
Competition | FIFA World Cup 2026 — Group A |
Where to watch | ITV1, livescorebet.com, virginbet.com |
Mexico vs South Africa Match Odds Outright
Outcome | Odds |
Mexico to win | 4/11 |
Draw | 7/2 |
South Africa to win | 15/2 |
*all odds correct at the time of writing
Our Prediction
Mexico and South Africa drew 1-1 in the opening game of the 2010 World Cup but the Mexicans should make a winning start when they bring the curtain up on the 2026 edition. It could be nervy at the Estadio Azteca, but Mexico have greater offensive quality and they are steely enough to repel South Africa's limited offensive threat.
Mexico vs South Africa Match Preview
The 2026 World Cup kicks off on Thursday, with co-hosts Mexico taking on South Africa at the Estadio Azteca.
This is the second time these countries have played the opening fixture at the finals. In 2010, Siphiwe Tshabalala opened the scoring for South Africa before Rafael Marquez equalised in a 1-1 draw at Soccer City, Johannesburg.
Bafana Bafana have not featured at a World Cup since hosting 16 years ago and this is the first time they have successfully qualified since 2002.
Mexico, meanwhile, are World Cup mainstays and famously lost in the last 16 at seven straight tournaments between 1994 and 2018. That run ended four years ago in Qatar when they were eliminated in the group stage under Gerardo Martino.
Javier Aguirre is now calling the shots after he was appointed in 2024 for a third spell in the hotseat. However, unlike in 2001 and 2009 when he was parachuted in to rescue the team's qualification campaigns, Aguirre has had two solid years to work on his side and has won the 2024-25 Concacaf Nations League and the 2025 Gold Cup.
A lack of competitive football in the build-up to a major tournament is always a concern for host nations.
However, Mexico have won their last three games and Aguirre's pragmatic approach means they should be ready for their first game. The magnitude of the occasion means nerves are inevitable, but South Africa's modest quality means the co-hosts should win with something in hand.
Bafana Bafana are well-drilled under Hugo Broos, yet approach this tournament after a frustrating Africa Cup of Nations campaign where they finished second behind Egypt in Group B and were eliminated in the last 16 by Cameroon, losing 2-1.
They will look to sit deep and strike quickly on the break but a lack of obvious attacking quality remains a concern, as it was at Afcon.
Broos's side had two-thirds of possession in their last-16 defeat to Cameroon but struggled to create clear opportunities until Evidence Makgopa found a way through in the 88th minute.
South Africa may not score in Thursday's tournament opener but Relebohile Mofokeng and Oswin Appollis have enough pace to cause Mexico problems on the break.
Raul Jimenez is the most recognisable forward talent on either side and, at 35, this will likely be his fourth and final World Cup.
Injuries and the form of others have previously prevented him from having a significant impact for Mexico but Santiago Gimenez's struggles at Milan this season — he failed to score a single Serie A goal — mean Jimenez is Aguirre's first-choice number nine.
Jimenez has failed to make an impact at his three previous World Cup finals, but he scored in last week's 5-1 warm-up rout of Serbia and scored the opening goal in last year's Gold Cup final win over the USA.
With the Czech Republic and South Korea also in Group A, Thursday's opening match in front of an expectant crowd at the Azteca is an opportunity for Mexico to settle into the tournament as they target not just top spot in the pool but a deep run into the knockout rounds.
Mexico's two previous World Cup quarter-final appearances both came as hosts in 1970 and 1986.
Aguirre played in that campaign 40 years ago and his team of 2026 can make a winning start, with Jimenez playing a leading role.
Follow the live Mexico vs South Africa score
Best Bets:
Raul Jimenez Anytime Goalscorer — 6/5
Raul Jimenez has yet to score at a World Cup but he may break his duck in his fourth finals. Jimenez is El Tri's undisputed first-choice striker and scored his 12th goal in his last 20 internationals in Friday's 5-1 friendly win against Serbia.
Mexico — 4/11
Opening games can be nervy affairs but Mexico are a better team than South Africa and are defensively strong enough to handle Bafana Bafana's limited attack. The pressure is on El Tri to deliver and they can win with a clean sheet.
See the latest Mexico vs South Africa odds on LiveScore
Bet Builders
Bet Builder 1 — 8/1 (£10 returns £90.00)
Selection | Reasoning |
Mexico to win | Co-hosts beat Serbia 5-1 in their final World Cup warm-up, their third straight win |
Khuliso Mudau over 1.5 fouls | Mudau averaged 2.2 fouls in qualifying and faces the impressive Julian Quinones |
Raul Jimenez anytime goalscorer | Has scored 12 goals in his last 20 internationals and could grab his first World Cup goal |
Both teams to score — No | South Africa lack any real cutting edge and Mexico should handle their threat with ease |
Bet Builder 2 — 30/1 (£10 returns £310.00)
Selection | Reasoning |
Julian Quinones anytime goalscorer | Scored 33 goals in 31 league appearances for Al-Qadsiah this term |
Under 2.5 goals | Prior to beating Serbia 5-1, six of Mexico's previous seven games featured no more than two goals |
Relebohile Mofokeng over 0.5 shots | Mofokeng averaged 3.17 shots per 90 minutes for Orlando Pirates this term |
Edson Alvarez to be carded | Booked against Serbia and picked up six cautions for Fenerbahce this term |
See the latest Mexico vs South Africa odds on LiveScore
Mexico vs South Africa Player Props
Relebohile Mofokeng over 1.5 shots — 5/4
Mofokeng averaged 3.17 shots per 90 minutes to help Orlando Pirates win this season's South African Premiership title.
Julian Quinones over 1.5 shots on target — 5/2
Quinones scored 33 goals in 31 games for Al-Qadsiah in this season's Saudi Pro League, averaging 1.95 shots on target per 90 minutes.
Edson Alvarez to be shown a card — 13/8
The Mexico midfielder was booked six times in 18 league matches for Fenerbahce this term and picked up a caution in the warm-up win over Serbia.
Alexis Vega to register an assist — 13/5
Vega is not a guaranteed starter but averaged 0.67 assists per 90 minutes in this season's Liga MX, suggesting he will have a role to play at some stage.
Khuliso Mudau over 1.5 fouls — 10/11
The South Africa right-back averaged 2.2 fouls per 90 minutes in qualifying and 1.26 infringements per match for Mamelodi Sundowns in this season's Premiership.
See the latest Mexico vs South Africa odds on LiveScore
Predicted Line-ups
Mexico (4-3-3) R. Rangel; J. Sánchez, C. Montes, J. Vásquez, J. Gallardo; A. Fidalgo, E. Lira, B. Gutierrez; R. Alvarado, R. Jimenez, J. Quinones
South Africa (4-2-3-1) R. Williams; K. Mudau, I. Okon, M. Mbokazi, A. Modiba; T. Mokoena, J. Adams; T. Moremi, R. Mofokeng, O. Appollis; L. Foster
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