Mexico vs South Africa live online: Score, stats, goals and updates | 2026 World Cup Group A

Group A schedule

We are going to see two of the four teams in Group A on the pitch from Estadio Azteca tonight. The other two teams are Korea Republic (120 in FIFA Rankings) and Czechia (40th in FIFA Rankings). Here is what the schedule looks like for the three match days in Group A. 

Thursday, June 11, 3 p.m. (Fox): Mexico vs. South Africa, Estadio Azteca (Mexico City)

Thursday, June 11, 10 p.m. (FS1): Korea Republic vs. Czechia, Estadio Akron (Guadalajara, Mexico)

Thursday, June 18, 12 p.m. (Fox): Czechia vs. South Africa, Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)

Thursday, June 18, 9 p.m. (Fox): Mexico vs. Korea Republic, Estadio Akron (Guadalajara, Mexico)

Wednesday, June 24, 9 p.m. (Fox): Czechia vs. Mexico, Estadio Azteca (Mexico City)

Wednesday, June 24, 9 p.m. (FS1): South Africa vs. Korea Republic, Estadio BBVA (Monterrey, Mexico)

FIFA World Rankings

Before we start things up here from Ciudad de Mexico lets take a look at the FIFA World Rankings before the World Cup kicks off. The defending champions, Argentina, come into the summer’s biggest even at the top of the rankings. They are first, with Euro winners Spain right behind them and France in third. England and Portugal round out the top five, and to find the first team in Group A on the rankings, you have to go to the 14th spot. Mexico is 14th in the World right now while South Africa is ranked 60th. 

Last World Cup match up between these two

These two teams met in the opening match of the 2010 World Cup when South Africa was hosting. It was a tournament that was highlighted by fufuzela, Waka Waka and Spain winning the World Cup but before that Mexico and South Africa opened the tournament, and it was the Bafana Bafana that had a sensational start to the tournament. Siphiwe Tshabalala scored a cracking goal to set the country into a frenzy as South Africa took a 1-0 lead in the first half, but Rafa Marquez would equalize 12 minute from the end of the match and each team would share the spoils. 

World Cup resume: Bafana Bafana

South Africa has a much shorter history than Meixco in this tournament. They didn't even try to enter in the first seven editions, and they were either banned or not admitted from 1966 to 1990. Since the end of apartheid they have been to the World Cup on three different occasions. The first came in France 1998, then they made the next one in Korea and Japan before hosting the 2010 World Cup. They have never been past the group stages, but with the new format this could be their best chance yet.

World Cup resume: Mexico 

This is Mexico's 18th time in what they call the World Cup finals. The qualified for the first one in 1930, and have been a regular in the tournament ever since. In 1934 they failed to qualify, and in the next edition they withdrew. They failed to qualify in 1974, and 1982 and were banned form the 1990 World Cup for fielding over age players at the 1988 Olympics. In their 17 appearances, the best they have done is reached the quarterfinals. It happened twice in 1970 when the World Cup was hosted in Mexico, and again when Mexico hosted the tournament in 1986. Now that they are co-hosting, should we expect them to at least get to the quarterfinals?

Who to watch for: South Africa

If you follow the MLS and the Orlando Pirates, you will know plenty of the guys on this team, and the Bafana Bafana might be your second favorite team in this competition. If you aren't as familiar, you should be keeping an eye on Relebohile Mofokeng. The 21 year old scored 10 goals and served up 8 assists in the Premier Soccer League, and he has got endorsement from former South Africa great Steven Pinnear. 

World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony

Don't miss our dedicated live feed building up to the World Cup 2026 opening ceremony, where you'll find Jen with the low down on the opening concert featuring none other than World Cup legend Shakira and Burna Boy. 

We are ready!

Who to watch for: Mexico

He may not be the biggest star on the team, but Alvaro Fidalgo is the pace maker in the middle of the park for Mexico. The Real Betis man was transferred from Club America to Sevilla during the winter, and he played just 9 games for Manuel Pelligrini but watching him over the last few games, I think he's going to be a crucial player for this Mexico side. Obviously they will need goal and they can depend on their three up front with Raul Jimenez, Julian Quinones and Brian Gutierrez, but with a solid defense and attacking potential like we saw against Serbia, the midfield is going to be a critical part of the success for this team. 

South Africa's squad

The South Africa coach’s name isn´t Hugo Boss, but it’s close. Hugo Broos is a Belgian manager who has been all over the place. He started his managerial career in 1988, and since he has been the boss of teams like Anderlecht, Trabzonspor and Genk. He was manager of the Cameroon national team in 2016/17 and took over as South Africa’s coach in 2021. He has assembled a team of some familiar MLS faces, and a whole lot of Orlando Pirates players (One of South Africa’s top teams). This is the team that Broos brought hoping to make some noise in this edition of the World Cup. 

Goalkeepers

Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns FC)

Sipho Chaine (Orlando Pirates FC)

Ricardo Goss (Siwelele FC)

Defenders

Thabang Matuludi (Polokwane City FC)

Khulumani Ndamane (Mamelodi Sundowns FC)

Aubrey Modiba (Mamelodi Sundowns FC)

Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Chicago Fire FC)

Samukelo Kabini (Molde FK)

Nkosinathi Sibisi (Orlando Pirates FC)

Khuliso Mudau (Mamelodi Sundowns FC)

Ime Okon (Hannover 96)

Olwethu Makhanya (Philadelphia Union)

Bradley Cross (Kaizer Chiefs FC)

Midfielders

Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns FC)

Thalente Mbatha (Orlando Pirates FC)

Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns FC)

Sphephelo Sithole (CD Tondela)

Jayden Adams (Mamelodi Sundowns FC)

Forwards

Oswin Appollis (Orlando Pirates FC)

Tshepang Moremi (Orlando Pirates FC)

Lyle Foster (Burnley FC)

Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates FC)

Thapelo Maseko (AEL Limassol)

Iqraam Rayners (Mamelodi Sundowns FC)

Evidence Makgopa (Orlando Pirates FC)

Kamogelo Sebelebele (Orlando Pirates FC)

Mexico's squad list

There are some legends. There are some youngsters. There are stars and there are some young guns. The Mexico squad has a good mix and an experienced manager that knows what it’s like to play on the biggest stage in the sport. The 26 man list was named a little over a week ago. The question remains, will this squad have what it takes to take Mexico farther than they have ever gone before in the World Cup?

Last game: South Africa 

The Bafana Bafana are winless in their last five matches dating back to their elimination at the hands of Cameroon in the African Cup of Nations. Since then they have three draws and a loss, including their 1-1 draw against Jamaica on Saturday. Oswin Appolis put the South African side up a goal to the good in the 32nd minute. They would hold on to that lead until the 93rd minute when a goal from Dwayne Atkinson leveled things and left South Africa with a share of the spoils in their final tune up. 

Home again, home again 

The journey starts today for El Tri. They have been to the quarters in both of the two World Cups that they have hosted. Will they be getting back to the quarters, or will they go even farther this summer? The hopes of the nation rest on Javier Aguirre and his squad. 

Last game: Mexico

It was a fiesta de futbol from Toluca for El Tri in their final tune up before the World Cup. They played a depleted Serbia side that was still recovering missing out on the tournament, and Mexico only added insult to injury against the Serbs. The visitors actually went up a goal, in the 19th minute but that only lit a fire under Javier Aguirre's side. A head from a corner by Johan Vasquez was followed by a ridiculous own goal from Serbia right before the half. Raul Jimenez scored a rebound goal right before most of the XI was subbed off. Another own goal from the Serbs poured on the punishment and then a golazo from Luis Chavez capped a perfect send off for the Mexico side before their opening match for the World Cup. 

We are live from Estadio Ciudad de Mexico

Hello everyone and welcome to Mexico City where the co-hosts of the  World Cup are ready to start their campaign on home soil. Javier Aguirre's have an opportunity to make a historic run in this tournament, but they will need to get through this opening match that will be packed with pressure, passion and expectation before the continue through the group stages. South Africa are back in the World Cup for the first time in 16 years and they will be looking to stun the co-hosts in this rematch of the opening match of the 2010 World Cup from South Africa. 

World Cup kickoff, Mexico vs. South Africa 

It has been 1,270 days since Argentina lifted their third World Cup in the history of the competition. The wait is over. The anticipation is through the roof. Today we kick off World Cup 2026 and we do it on the home soil of one of the co-hosts from the Estadio Ciudad de Mexico. It's a Group A match up to get a month long marathon as Mexico and South Africa open up the summer’s biggest event and AS English will be with you all afternoon providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of game 1 of 104.