Mexico vs South Africa Predictions

• Mexico have conceded only two goals in their last eight games.
• South Africa have only won one of their last five matches.
• Raul Jimenez has 10 international goals since the start of 2025.

Mexico City raises the curtain on the 2026 World Cup

South Africa’s last World Cup campaign began with a 1-1 draw against Mexico in Johannesburg, but the tables are turned on Thursday as Group A kicks off in front of a raucous home crowd at Estadio Banorte in Mexico City.

Co-hosts Mexico head into their first hosting of the World Cup since 1986 unbeaten in eight matches, and it is worth noting that El Tri have recorded a joint-best quarter-final showing in both their previous World Cups on home soil.

This is hardly surprising given the high altitude of many Mexican stadiums, which may explain why almost half of Javier Aguirre’s squad are based domestically.

Their recent unbeaten run includes draws against European heavyweights Belgium and Portugal, and they have conceded just two goals in this sequence.

Bafana Bafana set to struggle in Group A

South Africa may have topped their World Cup qualifying group, but they still failed to win half their games in that campaign and a narrow 1-0 win against Jamaica on Saturday is their only success in their last five games.

This five-game run in 2026 has seen them score only four goals and most of the sides they have faced in this period are significantly weaker than Mexico, so Bafana Bafana could struggle to make an impact against the defensively sound hosts.

Jimenez backed to make the difference

With five of Mexico’s last six victories being accompanied by a clean sheet, back Javier Aguirre’s side to win to nil, and a repeat of their 2-0 win against Ghana last month could be in store. They have scored 15 goals in their last eight games and South Africa have conceded twice against Panama and Cameroon this year.

One thing that could hold Mexico back in the later stages of the competition is their over-reliance on Raul Jimenez to find the net. However, he should flourish against the lesser opponents and has scored 10 of his 45 international goals in his 17 appearances since the start of 2025. The 35-year-old found the net against Serbia last time out and looks good value to begin his third World Cup campaign with a goal.