South Africa’s Bafana Bafana delivered a mixed performance against Mexico in their opening defeat at the 2026 World Cup.

After the match, Hugo Broos balanced critical analysis with a message of confidence for his squad.

South African head coach Hugo Broos first acknowledged the difficulties his team faced, particularly in dealing with the opposition’s strong phases and maintaining possession.

“My players didn’t know how to find the spaces. We struggled a bit. Mexico put us under pressure right from the first 20 minutes. We made mistakes at moments when we didn’t need to lose the ball, and we were punished for it,” he explained.

He compared the example of Argentina, who became world champions after a tough start in 2022, believing his team can recover.

“This defeat does not define us. We must continue to believe in ourselves,” he insisted.