Africa: FIFA World Cup - South Africa's Emphatic Return to the Global Stage After a 16-Year Wait
Mexico are ranked 15th in FIFA’s rankings and South Africa 60th, with Bafana Bafana returning to the World Cup after a 16-year absence.
- Bafana Bafana will launch their FIFA World Cup campaign against co-hosts Mexico at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on Thursday, June 11, with kick-off scheduled for 21:00 SA time.
- Returning to the tournament after a 16-year absence, Bafana Bafana enters the opener following a five-match winless run, including a January defeat to Cameroon at the AFCON in Morocco.
- Head coach Hugo Broos named a 26-man squad with 19 players from the Betway Premiership, including eight members from newly crowned champions Orlando Pirates.
- Ranked 60th, Bafana Bafana faces a challenging Group A schedule against 14th-ranked Mexico, alongside 25th-ranked South Korea and the Czech Republic ranked 39th.
- Following the opener, Bafana Bafana plays the Czech Republic in Atlanta on June 18, before concluding their group stage against South Korea in Guadalupe on June 25.
27 Articles
27 Articles
The three teams that stand between Mexico and World Cup glory
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in just a few days, and the enthusiasm that normally surrounds the event already seems somewhat muted, although to a large extent, any controversy has centered on the U.S. There is the question of FIFA’s greed over ticket prices, compounded by exorbitant transportation costs in some U.S. cities. To get from the center of New York City to the MetLife Stadium and back is usually around US $13 dollars; on match day…
On June 11, the first challenge of the World Cup of 2026, to give the kick start will be Mexico and South Africa. For football enthusiasts, the...
World Cup 2026 Opener: Mexico Meets South Africa at the Azteca
The World Cup 2026 opener pits host Mexico against South Africa at the Azteca on June 11, a rematch of their 2010 meeting and the first of 104 games. The post World Cup 2026 Opener: Mexico Meets South Africa at the Azteca appeared first on The Rio Times.
Africa: FIFA World Cup - South Africa's Emphatic Return to the Global Stage After a 16-Year Wait
After a 16-year absence from the FIFA World Cup, Bafana Bafana are gearing up to make an exciting return to the FIFA World Cup, following their last appearance at the global showpiece as hosts in 2010.
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