Mexico v South Africa: World Cup predictions, best bets and odds

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Mexico automatically qualified for the World Cup as co-hosts, but they certainly haven’t been resting on their laurels.

In fact, Javier Aguirre’s side have played seven friendlies in 2026… and impressively remained unbeaten in all of them.

Wins over the likes of Australia, Bolivia and Iceland were perhaps expected, however draws with Portugal and Belgium suggest that this Mexico team have got plenty about them.

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South Africa, meanwhile, have qualified for their first World Cup appearance since hosting in 2010, topping a group that included a decent outfit in Nigeria.

Theirs is not a squad blessed with stars, and while performances in qualification were good, a run of four friendlies without a win – including a 0-0 draw with Nicaragua last time out – is not the ideal way to prepare.

Mexico will be cheered on by tens of thousands of home fans in the Estadio Azteca. Will they – or South Africa – handle that pressure the best?

Mexico v South Africa Tips

Mexico to Win to Nil @ Evens (bet365)

Raul Jimenez to Score Anytime @ 13/10 (bet365)

Under 2.5 Goals @ 8/11 (bet365)

Odds courtesy of bet365. Correct at the time of publication and subject to change.

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Home Comforts

In those seven friendlies played this year, Mexico managed to keep a clean sheet in six of them.

The likes of Portugal and Ghana were unable to find a way past their stout defence, which offers a glimpse of the size of the task facing South Africa in this World Cup opener.

Mexico’s assistant manager, Rafael Marquez, was an outstanding defender in his day, so he too has no doubt played a part in their defensive prowess.

South Africa don’t possess any standout stars in an attacking sense, and their inability to score against Nicaragua on home soil last time out does not instil much in the way of confidence that they’ll find the back of the net here.

Tip: Mexico to Win To Nil @ Evens (bet365)

Explanation: Our bet lands if Mexico win and keep a clean sheet.

The Wolf Man Strikes

He may be 35 now, but Raul Jimenez remains a handful for defenders at the top level.

The man known as ‘El Lobo Mexicano’, or The Mexican Wolf, notched nine Premier League goals last term for Fulham, while he also found the net three times at last summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup.

A powerhouse in the air and potentially Mexico’s main penalty taker, Jimenez could fire his side to glory in the World Cup’s opening game.

Tip: Raul Jimenez to Score Anytime @ 13/10 (bet365)

Explanation: Our bet lands if Raul Jimenez scores for Mexico.

Opening Night Nerves

Between 1974 and 2002, only one of the eight opening games of the World Cup saw three or more goals.

Two of those finished 0-0 and four ended 1-0, so you can see how the pressure of playing on the opening night – and the desperation to secure a positive result – can impact the action.

More goals have flowed on opening night since 2002, but even then we’ve seen a 1-1 draw between, ironically, South Africa and Mexico in 2010, and a 2-0 triumph for Ecuador over Qatar in 2022.

Factor in the likely humidity in Mexico City, as well as its thin air at high altitude, and it seems somewhat unlikely that this game will be an action-packed, end to end affair.

Tip: Under 2.5 Goals @ 8/11 (bet365)

Explanation: Our bet lands if two or fewer goals are scored.

Mexico vs South Africa: Match result odds

Mexico: 2/5 (bet365)

Draw: 7/2 (bet365)

South Africa: 13/2 (bet365)