Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos claims that his troops gave Mexico a run for their money despite a 2-0 defeat in the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Azteca Stadium on Thursday night.

South Africa fell to goals from Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez in either half in a match that saw Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane receive straight red cards, while Mexico captain Cesar Montes also received his marching orders.

Bafana sit at the bottom of Group A standings as a result of the below-par performance, but the Belgian mentor is adamant that his team troubled the co-hosts, stating that Javier Aguirre’s men looked desperate at times.

“I don’t think it’s a drop in standard from my players, it’s just the fact that this level is much higher, and whatever the level, when you’re playing in the World Cup you’re playing against a good team,” Broos said.

“But I also have to tell you that we played a good game, I saw a desperate Mexico in some moments of the game, they didn’t know what to do with the ball. The organization was perfect defensively.