Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos and his charges will continue to put in the work as the opening match of FIFA World Cup 2026 edges closer.
The South Africans have quietly gone about their business at their base camp in Pachuca, Mexico, since arriving earlier this week as they prepare to face World Cup co-hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca on Thursday, 11 June.
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Stalemate
As part of their preparations, the South African senior men’s national team took on Jamaica to Pachuca in a friendly match that ended in a stalemate following second half goals from Lyle Foster and Dwayne Atkinson at Estadio Hidalgo on Saturday.
Broos said the team would continue to work hard in the coming days as he was not pleased with the performance he saw at Estadio Hidalgo.
“The performance was not what I expected. I think we have to analyse the game very well and see what was really wrong and try to make it better in the next few days so that we are ready for the first game against Mexico,” Broos said.
“I thought we were close (to getting to where he wants the team to be before the opening match), but again, it was, for me, a disappointing game this afternoon.
“So, yes, I have to look at what went wrong. I think it was also a matter of mentality. We have to do more, much more, than what we did this afternoon to have good results in the World Cup in the next few weeks.”
Holding back?
Jamaica coach Rudolph Speid insisted that Bafana Bafana held back against his team and did not unleash the full power of their talents at Estadio Hidalgo.
“As it relates to South Africa, I think they were playing within themselves, though, because probably, you know, players don’t want to get injured and everybody wants to impress the coach,” he said.
“I didn’t think they were going for it as much as they could have. But playing against Mexico in the Azteca Stadium (in the opening match of the World Cup), there’s going to be 123 000 screaming Mexicans in there, I can tell you.
“They’ll probably overload it, they’re going to be pressing high up the pitch, especially in the first half.
“They’re going to be pressing very high in the first half, relentless pressing, but of course, the pressure will ease as the game goes along.”
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Bafana Bafana’s Group A FIFA World Cup 2026 fixtures
- Thursday, 11 June: Mexico vs South Africa, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City – 21:00 (SA time)
- Thursday, 18 June: Czech Republic vs South Africa, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta – 18:00 (SA time)
- Thursday, 25 June: South Africa vs South Korea, Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe – 03:00 (SA time)
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