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Having qualified automatically for the World Cup as co-hosts, Mexico’s last competitive fixture came almost a year ago. El Tri emerged victorious on that occasion, beating neighbours USA in their own backyard to claim a record-extending tenth Gold Cup.
After navigating a tough spell in the immediate aftermath of that continental success, Javier Aguirre’s men are now on an eight-match unbeaten run. In addition to defeating the likes of Ghana, Australia, and Iceland, they have recorded impressive draws with Portugal and Belgium in recent weeks. Therefore, the Mexicans head into this one in confident spirits.
Conversely, South Africa are attempting to recover from an untimely slump in form. A positive qualification campaign saw them pip Nigeria and Benin at the summit of CAF Group C to secure their place in this summer’s competition, but results have been challenging since. A disappointing early exit at the African Cup of Nations was followed up by an underwhelming set of friendly performances, in which they failed to register a win against the Central American trio of Panama, Nicaragua, and Jamaica.
The South Africans haven’t featured at the World Cup since 2010, when they became the first hosts in history to be eliminated at the conclusion of the group stage. The inaugural fixture of that tournament was ironically the same as this one, with the two teams sharing a 1-1 draw in Johannesburg.
Thursday’s clash will be televised live at 20:00 (BST), following coverage of the tournament’s first opening ceremony (there are three in total, one per host). UK viewers can watch both of these events on ITV or STV, depending on their location.
Mexico vs. South Africa – Key information
Date: Thursday, 11th June
Kick-off time: 20:00 (BST)
Venue: Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Referee: TBC
VAR: TBC
TV Channels/Live stream: ITV, STV, ITVX, STV Player
Odds: Mexico: 2/5, Draw: 10/3, South Africa: 7/1
Odds provided by bet365
Mexico team news
Although Javier Aguirre was reluctant to select any players who are currently carrying injuries, in some cases, it was unavoidable.
Influential captain Edson Álvarez underwent ankle surgery in February, resulting in making a solitary substitute appearance for Fenerbahçe during the closing months of the season. The West Ham maestro – who returns to East London this summer following a year in Turkey – would earn his 100th international cap if he is deemed fit enough to feature against South Africa.
There’s a slight question mark over the condition of César Montes, who is currently struggling with a muscle strain. However, as he was in Mexico’s starting line-up for last week’s 5-1 thumping of Serbia, it seems the Lokomotiv Moscow defender will be available.
Luis Chávez also plays his club football in the Russian capital, and is another to arrive home with a considerable ailment. The defensive midfielder ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament during last year’s triumphant Gold Cup campaign, but is yet to fully recover. Alexis Vega is experiencing pain in his knee, so a place amongst the substitutes is most likely.
Although Raúl Rangel is poised to start between the sticks, Guillermo Ochoa may still get the opportunity to rewrite the history books in the coming weeks. Alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, the veteran goalkeeper is hoping to compete in a record-breaking sixth World Cup finals.
Mexico predicted line-up v South Africa (4-3-3)
Coach: Javier Aguirre
Raúl Rangel (GK); Jorge Sánchez, César Montes, Johan Vásquez, Jesús Gallardo; Álvaro Fidalgo, Erik Lima, Edson Álvarez; Orbelín Pineda, Raúl Jiménez, Julián Quiñones
South Africa team news
In stark contrast to his opposite number, Hugo Broos only has one injury headache to contend with.
Having developed a hamstring problem over the past month, Aubrey Modiba is a major doubt. The
30-year-old full-back missed the second leg of Mamelodi Sundowns’ CAF Champions League final meeting with Moroccan outfit AS FAR, before featuring as an unused substitute in his country’s penultimate World Cup warm-up match. As a result of Modiba’s absence, Samukele Kabini is set to provide cover on the left-hand side of South Africa’s defence.
Nevertheless, Broos was forced to leave several crocked stars at home, including pacey winger Mohau Nkota. The Al-Ettifaq ace is sidelined with a serious knee injury, which could keep him out for the first couple of months of the 2026/27 campaign.
South Africa predicted line-up v Mexico (4-2-3-1)
Coach: Hugo Broos
Ronwen Williams (GK); Khuliso Mudau, Ime Okon, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Samukele Kabini; Yaya Sithole, Teboho Mokoena; Oswin Appollis, Themba Zwane, Tshepang Moremi; Lyle Foster
Where to watch on TV or live stream?
ITV/STV have secured broadcasting rights for 54 of the 108 World Cup fixtures being contested this summer, with the BBC screening the other half. Therefore, every match is easily accessible to all UK residents on free-to-air television.
Jon Champion and Ally McCoist will be describing the action as it unfolds at the Estadio Azteca, while Mark Pougatch is in the studio alongside a punditry team of Gary Neville, Roy Keane, and Ian Wright. Programming commences almost two hours before kick-off at 18.15 (BST), enabling viewers to also watch Mexico’s opening ceremony.
Thursday’s World Cup opener will also be streamed live online on ITVX and STV Player, with full match highlights and analysis also uploaded onto these platforms following the final whistle.
Head-to-Head record
These two countries have faced each other on four previous occasions, but only twice in a competitive setting.
Five years before their aforementioned encounter at the 2010 World Cup, Mexico and South Africa locked horns during the group stages of the Gold Cup. Having been invited to participate in CONCACAF’s biennial international tournament as guests, Bafana Bafana started their campaign by beating the much-fancied Mexicans in Los Angeles. Both teams would later be knocked out at the quarter-final stage.
Mexico have never been defeated in a World Cup match at the Azteca, winning on five occasions and drawing twice. El Tri’s last World Cup outing here came back in June 1986, when goals from Manuel Negrete and Raúl Servín helped them claim a 2-0 victory over Bulgaria in the last sixteen.
This will be South Africa’s second World Cup meeting with a host nation, having lost 3-0 to France at Marseille’s Stade Vélodrome in 1998.
Mexico v South Africa – Match Result odds
The odds, correct at the time of publication, are subject to change. All odds provided by bet365.