Mexico vs South Africa Prediction: Preview, Team News & Offers
Mexico and South Africa kick-off World Cup 2026 when the Group A opponents go head-to-head at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on Thursday night (8pm, BST).
Read on for our predictions, match preview, offers, and the latest team news.
Mexico vs South Africa Prediction
Mexico vs South Africa Preview
Co-hosts Mexico will fancy their chances of not only progressing from a favourable Group A but perhaps even reaching the quarter-finals for the first time since 1986.
Managed by the experienced Javier Aguirre, El Tri head into the opening game as the 4/9 favourites (AK Bets) to start their campaign with a win in front of their own fans.
South Africa, who are featuring in their first World Cup since they hosted the 2010 edition, are out at 7/1 (bet365) to claim only their third ever World Cup win and first in 16 years. They have never reached the knockout stages in three attempts, but a draw at 7/2 (bet365) on Thursday would give them an ideal platform to build on.
- Tip 1: Mexico's Edson Alvarez is a frequent visitor to the referee's little black book and stands out at 15/4 with bet365 to be carded.
- Tip 2: Mexico, fuelled by their passionate home support, will be eager to shoot out of the blocks and can be backed at 1/1 with BOYLE Sports to be leading at half-time.
Mexico vs South Africa Odds
Mexico vs South Africa Offers
Sky Bet are offering new customers enhanced odds of 60/1 for Mexico to win or draw.
Betfair are offering new customers boosted odds of 50/1 for a goal to be scored in the game, plus a £5 England free bet.
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Mexico vs South Africa Team News
Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa will hope to make history as the 40-year-old would become the first player ever to appear at six separate World Cup tournaments, should he play.
At the other end of the age spectrum is highly-rated teenager Gilberto Mora. Still only 17, the youngster is regarded as one of Mexican football's brightest prospects and will be hoping to make an instant impact on the biggest stage.
Raul Jimenez, who has swapped Fulham for former club Wolves, will expect to start as will former West Ham player Edson Alvarez, who captains his country.
South Africa will look to Oswin Appollis for creativity and goals with Burnley striker Lyle Foster set to start too.
Mexico vs South Africa Starting Lineups
The starting lineups will appear in the graphic below approximately one hour before kick-off.
| # | Starting XI | Fouls | Goals | Shots | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | José Raúl Rangel Aguilar | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Jesús Daniel Gallardo Vasconcelos | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Johan Felipe Vásquez Ibarra | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | César Jasib Montes Castro | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | Israel Reyes Romero | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Érik Antonio Lira Méndez | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Julián Andrés Quiñones Quiñones | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Álvaro Fidalgo Fernández | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | Brian Gutiérrez | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 25 | Roberto Carlos Alvarado Hernández | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Raúl Alonso Jiménez Rodríguez | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| # | Substitutes | Fouls | Goals | Shots | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Carlos Acevedo López | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Mateo Chávez García | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Luis Gerardo Chávez Magallón | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Santiago Tomás Giménez Zolotarchuk | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Armando González Alba | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | César Saúl Huerta Valera | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Guillermo Martínez Ayala | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Gilberto Rafael Mora Zambrano | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Francisco Guillermo Ochoa Magaña | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | Orbelín Pineda Alvarado | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Luis Francisco Romo Barrón | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Jorge Eduardo Sánchez Ramos | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | Obed Gómez Vargas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Ernesto Alexis Vega Rojas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Edson Omar Álvarez Velázquez | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| # | Starting XI | Fouls | Goals | Shots | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ronwen Hayden Williams | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Mbekezeli Mfanufikile Mbokazi | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Ime Daniel Okon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Nkosinathi Emmanuel Sibisi | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | Aubrey Maphosa Modiba | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Khuliso Johnson Mudau | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Jayden Oswin Adams | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Sphephelo S'Miso Sithole | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | Teboho Mokoena | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | Lyle Brent Foster | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Iqraam Rayners | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| # | Substitutes | Fouls | Goals | Shots | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Oswin Reagan Appollis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Sipho Justin Chaine | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | Bradley Paul Cross | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Stuart Ricardo Goss | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | Samukele Alucious Kabini | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | Sekotori Evidence Makgopa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Olwethu Mpilwenhle Makhanya | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Thapelo Maseko | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Tholo Thabang Matuludi | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Thalente Wandile Mbatha | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Relebohile Mofokeng | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Tshepang Moremi | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Khulumani Ndamane | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | Mike Kamogelo Sebelebele | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Themba Zwane | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
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