Mexico - South Africa / 2026 FIFA World Cup

Follow the LIVE broadcast of the Mexico vs. South Africa match in Group A of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on ŠPORT.sk! The match, also broadcast live on TV JOJ and JOJ Šport, kicks off at 9:00 PM CET.

Mexico City is buzzing with anticipation. At the sold-out Banorte Stadium, nearly 90,000 fervent fans will roar their team on as the highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off.

For one of the three host nations, this tournament presents a golden opportunity for redemption after their shocking group stage exit four years ago – a setback they had only previously experienced in the inaugural 1930 edition. Home supporters are also secretly dreaming of matching their historic best performance: a quarter-final appearance from forty years ago.

Mexico enters the tournament as clear favorites, buoyed by their excellent recent form. They boosted their confidence with victories over Ghana (1-0) and Australia (2-0), and in their final warm-up match, they emphatically dismantled Serbia 5-1. Their defense was rock-solid in that game, allowing the opposition no shots on target besides the goal, and two off-target attempts. The return of captain Álvarez, who will form a central defensive partnership with Montes, is excellent news for their backline.

Standing against them will be South Africa, making only their fourth World Cup appearance in history. Their last participation was 16 years ago, benefiting from host nation status. Although they missed out on the previous World Cup in the final qualification block, this time they secured direct qualification by topping their group, ahead of favored Nigeria.

However, their performance has declined since then. At the year-end Africa Cup of Nations, they were eliminated in the round of 16 by Cameroon (1-2), and they haven't won any of their four matches this calendar year. Following spring fixtures against Panama (1:1, 1:2), they only managed a 0-0 draw against Nicaragua in Johannesburg (missing a penalty) and a 1-1 stalemate with Jamaica in their final warm-up match in Mexico.

The match carries an interesting historical parallel. Both nations also opened the World Cup in 2010 in Johannesburg, where they played out a 1-1 draw. The overall head-to-head record from three previous encounters includes a Mexico win in 2000 and a South Africa triumph at the 2005 Gold Cup (2-1). A cautious start is anticipated, but home pressure is expected to ignite offensive activity. From a betting perspective, a low number of goals in the first half (under one) and a higher frequency of Mexico's corner kicks (exceeding 4.5) seem plausible.