South Africa vs Mexico: Record that should give Bafana fans World Cup hope

Bafana Bafana landed a tricky 2026 World Cup draw that pits them against Mexico, South Korea and a European team that will come from playoff Group D.

That European team will either be Denmark, Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland or North Macedonia and while they await that to be decided in March 2026, coach Hugo Broos and his analysts will be scouting and finding out how to stop Mexico and South Korea.

South Africa will play the first game of the 2026 World Cup against co-hosts Mexico at the Azteca Stadium on June 11 before taking on their European opponents seven days later and then South Korea on June 25.

This will be the first meeting between South Africa and South Korea but with Mexico, there are reasons to be hopeful for Hugo Broos’ men.

South Africa lost back-to-back to Mexico

Bafana Bafana and Mexico are familiar foes who have faced off four times before and the record should give South Africa hope, even if the circumstances will be difficult in 2026.

The first meeting between Bafana Bafana and Mexico was on October 6, 1993, at the Memorial Coliseum, in Los Angeles when the South Americans won 4-0 in an international friendly.

Mexico took a 2-0 lead at halftime thanks to goals from David Patino and Ignacio Ambriz before a second half brace from Benjamin Galindo completed the rout against a South Africa team captained by Steve Komphela with the likes of Lucas Radebe, Pitso Mosimane, Daniel Mudau and Mark Fish in the squad.

The second meeting was on June 2, 2000 when the Mexicans won 4-2 in the US Nike Cup at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.

When did Bafana Bafana beat El Tri?

Jesus Olalde and Luis Perez gave Mexico a 2-0 lead inside 43 minutes before Benni McCarthy pulled one back for Bafana Bafana but a late brace from Horacio Sanchez extended Mexico’s lead before Thabo Mngomeni scored a second for South Africa.

Current Bafana Bafana assistant coach Helman Mkhalele, Andre Arendse, Patrick Mayo and Arthur Zwane were among the Bafana players in the squad.

South Africa’s first and only win over Mexico came on July 8, 2005 when they triumphed 2-1 in a CONCACAF Gold Cup match played in Los Angeles.

Philip Evans and Elrio Van Heerden, who netted in the 28^th and 41^st minutes, gave South Africa the win with Francisco Rodríguez’s 81^st minute goal turning out to be a consolation for Mexico.

Simphiwe Tshabalala heroics still fresh

However, the most memorable match between South Africa and Mexico came at the 2010 World Cup, when just like in 2026, the two countries faced off in the opening match on June 11, 2010 at the Soccer City Stadium (FNB Stadium).

After a goalless first half, Simphiwe Tshabalala scored one of the best goals in FIFA World Cup history when he blasted an unstoppable shot past goalkeeper Oscar Perez in the 55^th minute but Rafael Marquez would equalise in the 79^th minute for a share of the spoils.

It was one of the best games played by Bafana Bafana at the World Cup and they will be hoping to pick up from here when they line up at the Azteca Stadium on June 11, 2026 which will be exactly 16 years since that match.