Bafana Bafana landed in Group A of the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
South Africa have been placed in the same pool with El Tri, the Korea Republic and Czech Republic/Republic of Ireland/Denmark/North Macedonia. The match between Bafana Bafana and Mexico will be a repeat of the 2010 World Cup opener that ended 1-1.
It is a tricky group but a majority of Mzansi hope their team can advance to the knockout phase. Have a look at what they said as sampled by Afrik-Foot.
Bafana Bafana are in a better group
The opening game is like the 2010 World Cup fixture, South Africa against Mexico. At least we also know that a certain team’s players will be occupying the empty spaces on the couch and watching the World Cup and AFCON on TV like all of us – Motshedi Joel Tsheola
Kaizer Chiefs midfielder George Matlou will score the opening goal for Bafana Bafana against Mexico – Thabiso Taba
Out of all African teams, Bafana are in a better group, to be honest. I’m surprised by South Africans who feel like we could’ve been drawn in a better group than this one. Ghana and Senegal are in tougher groups – Ngeke Ngigome Mina
I foresee South Africa advancing into the knockout stage for the first time if they take the right squad to the World Cup – Mandla Maridi
Kaizer Chiefs gave us a great opener in 2010. We hope for a good opener from our noisy neighbours – Siseko DaddyCool Vundl’elikhulu Gqola
We want France then Mbule show Vitinha who’s the boss
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Pirates will go all the way. We want France, Brazil, Argentina, or Portugal. Sipho Mbule must show Vitihna who’s the boss – Da Gaffer
Imagine that the first game Nigerians’ll watch from home is South Africa against Mexico. They don’t have a choice because they would want to watch the opening game – AyandaStand Sibanda
Mexico’s goalkeeper is not known even by Mexicans; we all see him during the World Cup – Sbongayena Ngubo Zuke
I wanted Haiti or Panama just to make sure we score more than four goals in one game – Thobani Fakazie
We will both watch the World Cup knockout stage together at home – Thabiso Mosty-Markham Mahao
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