World Cup 2026: Bafana Bafana land favourable group in the global tournament! It's Mexico vs South Africa again

Bafana Bafana have been placed in Group A alongside Mexico, Korea Republic and the European Play Off Path D winner between Denmark, North Macedonia, Czech Republic, and Ireland. 

The pairing of Mexico and South Africa in the pool brings back the 2010 memories when Mzansi hosted the prestigious competition - held in Africa for the first time. 

The match, played at the FNB Stadium, ended 1-1; Siphiwe Tshabalala opened the scoring in favour of Bafana Bafana before Rafael Marquez ensured spoils were shared.

Have a look at how the teams have been grouped.

Group A: Mexico – South Africa – Korea Republic – (Denmark/North Macedonia/Czech/Ireland)

Group B: Canada – (Italy/Northern Ireland/Wales/Bosnia) – Qatar – Switzerland

Group C: Brazil – Morocco – Haiti – Scotland 

Group D: USA – Paraguay – Australia – (Turkey/Romania/Slovakia/Kosovo)

Group E: Germany – Curacao – Ivory Coast – Ecuador

Group F: Netherlands – Japan – (Ukraine/Sweden/Poland/Albania) – Tunisia

Group G: Belgium – Egypt – Iran – New Zealand

Group H: Spain – Cape Verde – Saudi Arabia – Uruguay

Group I: France – Senegal – (Iraq/Bolivia/Suriname) – Norway

Group J: Argentina – Algeria – Austria – Jordan

Group K: Portugal – (Congo DR/Jamaica/New Caledonia) – Uzbekistan – Colombia

Group L: England – Croatia – Ghana – Panama

The first match for South Africa will be on June 11 at Estadio Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, where they will come face with their hosts, Mexico. The venue will go down in history as the first one to host three World Cup editions. 

On June 18, Hugo Broos' men will then make a trip to Atlanta Stadium, where they will rub shoulders with either the Czech Republic, the Republic of Ireland, Denmark, or North Macedonia.

The final Group A game will be at the Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe, on June 24 against the Korea Republic. 

Here are the Cities that will host the World Cup: 

The United States - Atlanta, Boston, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle.

Canada: Toronto, Vancouver.

Mexico: Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey.

With 48 teams set to compete for a place in the next phase, it will be embarrassing for South Africa to be among the nations that will be eliminated in the group stage.  

Coach Hugo Broos has already confirmed this will be his last assignment before he retires, so he will be aiming to reach at least the knockout phase or even the quarter-final, which will be historic.

Bafana will be hoping to set the tone by winning the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title in Morocco ahead of next year's World Cup.

South Africa, who are coming off a third-place finish at the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast, are seen as strong contenders under coach Hugo Broos, with a final 25-man squad announced on December 1. 

The Southern African giants are in Group B along with Africa's most successful nation, Egypt, and their COSAFA rivals Zimbabwe and Angola.

The two matches against Angola and Zimbabwe are scheduled to be played at the Grand Stade de Marrakech on December 22, and December 29, respectively.

The match against Mohamed Salah's Egypt is set to be held at the Grand Stade d'Agadir.

The final is scheduled for January 18, 2026, at the Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.