Interview

Broos makes Mexico declaration as World Cup opener looms

Photo: Lucio Tavora/Xinhua

12.06.26
03:00

World Cup

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Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos says Mexico are head and shoulders above the rest of the pack in Group A ahead of the two teams’ clash in the 2026 FIFA World Cup opener on Thursday night.

The match will be staged at the Azteca Stadium in what will be a repeat of the global showpiece’s curtain raiser a decade ago at FNB Stadium, where Siphiwe Tshabalala scored the opening goal.

Broos downplayed the suggestions that his troops will be motivated by Tshabalala’s iconic stunner against Mexico, stating that his team is raring to go, and need no extra motivation as the mandate is clear in the Bafana camp.

“I don’t think that the team needs that inspiration, it was a great moment for South Africa so long ago but now it’s 2026. We are playing the opening game against Mexico tomorrow, so I think the guys are excited and motivated enough and don’t really need that goal of Tshabalala, but it’s a very nice memory like my memory of 40 years ago [as a player]so it’s nice,” said the Belgian mentor.

With his squad boasting a plethora of Mamelodi Sundowns players, the veteran tactician is banking on their CAF Champions League experience as they are accustomed to playing in front of hostile crowds in their continental travels.

“I think it’s very important to have those players in my selection because they are used to play big games in the Champions League in Africa. So, they have a great experience also to play in front of a big crowd because tomorrow there will be a big crowd, and there will be not so much South African supporters, so that is a big help for the team for sure,” Broos added.

However, Broos is anticipating a tough test against Mexico as he believes the co-hosts are the best team in Group A, owing to their impressive record in the build-up to the World Cup with three wins and two draws in their last five matches.

“I think the last 10 games of Mexico, they nearly won all of them, so that means they will be a team [high] in confidence. And also a fact and a reality is that Mexico is the best team in the group, so for us it will be a very tough game tomorrow,” the coach stated.

“I think we need to be on our best level and need also need a little bit of luck. But I can assure you that my team is ready and we will fight for every metre and every ball during the 90 minutes and after that we will see what the result it.

The 74-year-old gaffer acknowledges that the passionate Mexican supporters will serve as the 12th man for Javier Aguirre’s side, with crucial maximum points at stake for the old foes in Mexico City.

“As I have said already, when you see what happened the last three months and all the games they played, they are, first of all, well prepared, secondly, they have very good players in the team, players who can decide a match, so that’s also very important. And they are playing at home in a stadium of 85 000 people, nobody will be against Mexico tomorrow. So, that will give them a boost also,” continued the Bafana boss.

“I think they also know, like us, that in a tournament like this it’s very important to win your first game because if we don’t win it then in the second game you’re already with a knife here [on the throat]and the last game is enormous pressure on the team to have those three points because I think if you have three points, certainly with the eight best third-placed teams earning qualification, you can go to the second round. So, for us and for every team in the group stages it’s very important to have the three points as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, in addition to Mexico, Bafana will also square off against Czech Republic on 18 June, before tackling South Korea in their final group stage match seven days later, as they look to qualify for the knockout stages for the first time in World Cup history.