Bafana Bafana’s Hugo Broos on expectations against ‘complete’ Mexico in World Cup opener

Bafana Bafana are set to face co-hosts Mexico in the 2026 FIFA World Cup opener on Thursday, June 11, at iconic Estadio Azteca in a repeat of the 2010 outing that ended 1-1.

South Africa have been boosted by the return to full fitness of Mamelodi Sundowns star Aubrey Modiba, who has been out for a couple of weeks after sustaining an injury in the first leg of the CAF Champions League final between Masandawana and AS FAR Rabat.

The 30-year-old went on to miss build-up games against Nicaragua and Jamaica that ended 0-0 and 1-1, respectively.

This is the fourth time that Mzansi will be competing in the global tournament, having also taken part in the 1998, 2002, and 2010 editions. Bafana Bafana have never made the knockout phase and coach Hugo Broos hopes to break that jinx.

What Bafana Bafana should expect against Mexico

The Belgian insists the Group A opener will be tough since he can’t tell what to expect from El Tri, whom he terms a complete team.

“You know, I don’t know the names, the 11 names, so I can’t tell you if we are the most dangerous. They are all dangerous. It is a very complete team, with much movement, with solidarity,” Broos said in his presser as quoted by SABC Sport.

“You see that those guys, they really want to become world champions. You see that in the way they are playing, the commitment in the game. So, they are a very good team and we will be, or we have to be, on our level best next Thursday if we want to do a good result.

“I saw the game against Serbia. It was fantastic how they played, certainly the first half hour. Movement, aggressivity, solidarity, all the team attack, all the team is defending.

“So, it is a very complete team and it will be very difficult for us on Thursday, but a football game is a football game. We don’t have to think now that we don’t have any chance against Mexico. This is not true either. But we have to prepare ourselves very good and we have to play on our level best. That is for sure,” Broos concluded.