Bafana Bafana vs Mexico: Broos ready to deal with 85k El Tri fans – ‘They just come to shout, not play!’

Bafana Bafana will be in action in the 2026 FIFA World Cup opener, on Thursday evening against co-hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

This will be a repeat of the 2010 meeting between the two nations in the tournament held in South Africa, and the African continent for the first time in the competition’s history; the game ended 1-1.

It will be the fifth time the teams are meeting in all competitions, with El Tri winning two times, losing ones and drawing once as well.

Ahead of the highly anticipated game, coach Hugo Broos has opened up about his team’s preparations, facing Mexico in a packed stadium, as well as the chances of making the knockout phase for the first time, having failed to do so in the initial three times they have competed on the stage.

Bafana Bafana need no motivation

“I don’t think this team needs that inspiration. It was a great moment for South Africa a long time ago, but now it’s 2026 and [today] we are playing against Mexico. The players are excited enough. We don’t need to talk about Siphiwe Tshabalala’s goal. It’s a very nice memory. I have my own nice memories from 40 years ago. It’s nice to remember those moments,” Broos told Afrik-Foot in a presser.

“It’s very important to have those players in my squad. They are used to playing big games, Champions League matches in Africa, and they have a lot of experience playing in front of large crowds. Tomorrow there will be a big crowd, even if there won’t be many South African supporters. Their experience will be a big help for the team.

“The preparation was good. We played against Panama. Over the last four years we have mainly played against African teams, and the style on other continents is very different. The way Central American teams play is different, so it was very good for us to have that experience,” he added.

85,000 people behind you are just shouting not playing

“For sure, it’s a big stadium — 85,000 people, probably 85,000 Mexicans. The only thing I have to say is that we must focus on the match plan. That is the most important thing. Eighty-five thousand Mexicans don’t play; they just shout. If you are the home team, it’s important to have 85,000 people behind you, singing and cheering. We must focus on our game and not be influenced too much by the noise. If we do that, we can have a good game tomorrow,” the Belgian said regarding thousands expected in the stadium.

“From the beginning, after the draw, I was sure we had to arrive a little earlier because of the high altitude. It was an advantage 40 years ago when I experienced it as a player. I immediately knew what we had to do. We came to Pachuca and were happy to be there. The accommodation was very good and the people were very helpful. We had everything we needed for 10 days at altitude. Medically, 10 days is sufficient, so we shouldn’t have too many problems in tomorrow’s game.”

“It’s a very big event. With 48 teams and matches across three different countries, there is something special about it. For me, honestly, it’s a little bit too big. When you have 48 countries involved, there is a lot of travelling. You go to Atlanta, then if you get through the group stage you go to Los Angeles. Forty years ago, when the World Cup was in Mexico, everything was just in Mexico. We have to adapt. It’s more exhausting than previous World Cups with fewer countries, but the organisation is there and we have to adapt,” Broos further explained.

Bafana Bafana are prepared for Mexico

“I think Mexico have won nearly all of their last 10 matches, so they will be a team full of confidence. That is the reality. Mexico are the best team in the group and tomorrow will be a very tough game. We need to be at our best and we will also need a little bit of luck. I can assure you that my team is ready. We will fight for every metre, every ball and every minute of the 90. Then we will see what the result is,” Broos assured Mzansi.

“Mexico have been very well prepared over the last three months. They have good players who can decide a match, which is very important. They are playing at home, in front of 85,000 supporters, and nobody will be against Mexico tomorrow. They also know that in a tournament like this it is important to win the first game. If you don’t, then the second match already becomes a must-win. If you don’t win that one, the last game comes with enormous pressure. If you get three points, you put yourself in a very good position to qualify. For every team in the group stage, it is important to get those points as quickly as possible.

“What has happened over the last six or seven months has been fantastic. If you know the history of Bafana Bafana over the last five years, we were playing in empty stadiums. Now the stadiums are full and the enthusiasm of the people grows every month. People already expect us to win the World Cup, which is a little unrealistic, but we feel the warmth and support. Even with thousands of kilometres between the two countries, we feel the support of South Africans. They can be sure that tomorrow they will see a team they can be proud of,” he concluded.