Hugo Broos: Mexico are group favorites, but South Africa is ready

South Africa head coach Hugo Broos has shared his thoughts ahead of the 2026 World Cup opening match, where his team faces one of the tournament hosts, Mexico. Broos acknowledged that the opposition is currently in excellent form and stands as the group favorite.

The coach emphasized that the atmosphere at the Estadio Azteca will be a significant challenge for his players. With 85,000 Mexican fans expected to be in attendance, the home crowd will provide a massive boost to their team. "We need to stay fully focused on our own game. If we can manage that—if the noise of 85,000 Mexican fans doesn't affect us too much—then we can have a good match," Broos said.

Mexico is a team in excellent form with enormous self-confidence. They are the strongest team in our group. Hugo Broos

Broos also addressed the updated World Cup format, which now features 48 teams. He expressed skepticism, noting that the expanded tournament is far more exhausting than previous editions. However, he stressed that his squad remains fully committed to fighting for every ball on the pitch.

The opening match of the tournament is scheduled for June 11 at the Estadio Azteca, with kick-off at 22:00 Kyiv time.