Ex-Mexico Star: ‘We Have To Think About South Africa’

Former Mexico international Felix Fernandez believes that Mexico's opening game against South Africa will be the most decisive for their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.

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Mexico and South Africa will kick off the 2026 FIFA World Cup in a repeat of their 2010 World Cup opener in South Africa.

Mexico, as World Cup co-hosts, will be under pressure to perform on home soil, and prominent names within Mexican football agreed that the game against South Africa will be the most important one, according to El Universal.

"The first one [against South Africa] is the one that has to start going well," Mexican Football Federation (FMF) Commissioner Mikel Arriola explained.

His words were echoed by former Mexico goalkeeper Felix Fernandez. Fernandez, who went to the 1994 FIFA World Cup, said the foremost thought must be on South Africa, but also expressed concern over how Javier Aguirre will lineup on 11 June.

"Yes, we have to think about the match against South Africa, but we also have to think about the lineup that will be formed that day, because there have been a lot of uncertainties," he explained.

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"Unfortunately, in recent months, many injured players finished their rehabilitation very close to the World Cup,” the former goalkeeper added.