South Africa will base their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign in the Mexican city of Pachuca, opting for a high-altitude training venue with a mild summer climate as they prepare for their return to football’s biggest stage.
The city, located about 90km north of Mexico City, sits at an altitude of 2 432 metres above sea level – significantly higher than Johannesburg’s 1 753 metres.
Despite the elevation, Pachuca enjoys a temperate climate in June, with average daily temperatures of around 22 degrees Celsius, offering more moderate conditions than many other host cities across North America.
Opening clash at the Azteca
South Africa will kick off their FIFA World Cup Group A campaign against co-hosts Mexico at the iconic Estadio Azteca on 11 June.
A week later, Bafana Bafana will travel to Atlanta in the United States to face a yet-to-be-determined European qualifier.
Their final group-stage fixture sees them return to Mexico on 24 June to take on South Korea in Guadalupe, part of the greater Monterrey metropolitan area.
Pachuca’s proximity to Mexico City – accessible via Mexican Federal Highway 85 – ensures relatively straightforward travel for the tournament opener.
The journey to Monterrey is a one-and-a-half-hour flight, while Atlanta is approximately three hours away by air.
Training base and accommodation secured
The South African Football Association (SAFA) has chosen the Universidad del Futbol as the team’s official training base.
The facility, aligned with Liga MX side CF Pachuca, boasts an extensive campus dedicated to football and sports sciences, with multiple high-quality training pitches.
The squad will be accommodated at the five-star Camino Real Pachuca, located about 5km from the city centre and surrounded by gardens and forested areas – a setting designed to provide a calm and focused environment during the tournament.
Return to the global stage
Bafana Bafana are back at the FIFA World Cup for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2010.
The 2026 edition will mark their fourth appearance at the finals, following first-round exits in 1998, 2002 and 2010.
South Africa secured qualification by finishing top of their pool ahead of regional rivals Nigeria, underlining renewed optimism around the national side.
With altitude preparation, stable weather conditions and world-class facilities at their disposal, SAFA will hope the Pachuca base provides the ideal platform for a competitive showing in North America.
