Hugo Broos, South Africa national team coach, has put on a brave face despite his team’s 2–0 loss to Mexico in their opening 2026 FIFA World Cup match at the Estadio Azteca.
Goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez were enough to sink Bafana Bafana, who were making a World Cup return after missing out on the tournament since hosting it in 2010.
Quiñones gave the co-hosts the lead in the eighth minute when Mexico capitalized on poor defending.
South Africa, known for building play from the back under Hugo Broos, were punished for their errors.
Defender Sphephelo Sithole lost possession under pressure, allowing Quiñones to capitalize.
In the second half when Raúl Jiménez headed home from close range to double Mexico’s lead.
The match turned heated, with three players being sent off. South Africa’s Sithole and Themba Zwane saw red, along with Mexico captain César Montes.
“You’re playing at a World Cup, and you’re playing against a really good team, but we played a good game. I saw a desperate Mexico. They didn’t know what to do with the ball,” the Belgian coach said after the match.
“My players didn’t know how to find the spaces. We were under pressure from the hosts from the first 20 minutes. We made mistakes twice in moments we didn’t have to lose the ball and we were punished.”
In another Group A fixture, Hwang In-beom was on target for South Korea, who came from behind to beat the Czech Republic 2–1.
South Africa will now face South Korea in their bid to revive their chances against the Czech Republic.
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