Mexico vs South Africa, Worldcup 2026 GROUP STAGE
Overview
Match Preview
Mexico vs South Africa — Worldcup at Azteca.
- Mexico 3 games · 9 pts (2026/26)
- South Africa 3 games · 4 pts (2026/26)
Match Details
- Referee Wilton Pereira Sampaio
- Assistant 1 Bruno Raphael Pires
- Assistant 2 Bruno Boschilia
15 games this season
🟨 2.7/game
⚽ 10.3 goals/game
🟥 3 total
Standings
| # | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico | 3 | 9 |
| 2 | South Africa | 3 | 4 |
| 3 | South Korea | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Czechia | 3 | 1 |
| 5 | Switzerland | 3 | 7 |
| 6 | Canada | 3 | 4 |
| 7 | Bosnia-Herzegovina | 3 | 4 |
| 8 | Qatar | 3 | 1 |
| 9 | Brazil | 3 | 7 |
| 10 | Morocco | 3 | 7 |
| 11 | Scotland | 3 | 3 |
| 12 | Haiti | 3 | 0 |
| 13 | United States | 3 | 6 |
| 14 | Australia | 3 | 4 |
| 15 | Paraguay | 3 | 4 |
| 16 | Turkey | 3 | 3 |
| 17 | Germany | 3 | 6 |
| 18 | Ivory Coast | 3 | 6 |
| 19 | Ecuador | 3 | 4 |
| 20 | Curaçao | 3 | 1 |
| 21 | Netherlands | 3 | 7 |
| 22 | Japan | 3 | 5 |
| 23 | Sweden | 3 | 4 |
| 24 | Tunisia | 3 | 0 |
| 25 | Belgium | 3 | 5 |
| 26 | Egypt | 3 | 5 |
| 27 | Iran | 3 | 3 |
| 28 | New Zealand | 3 | 1 |
| 29 | Spain | 3 | 7 |
| 30 | Cape Verde Islands | 3 | 3 |
| 31 | Uruguay | 3 | 2 |
| 32 | Saudi Arabia | 3 | 2 |
| 33 | France | 3 | 9 |
| 34 | Norway | 3 | 6 |
| 35 | Senegal | 3 | 3 |
| 36 | Iraq | 3 | 0 |
| 37 | Argentina | 3 | 9 |
| 38 | Austria | 3 | 4 |
| 39 | Algeria | 3 | 4 |
| 40 | Jordan | 3 | 0 |
| 41 | Colombia | 3 | 7 |
| 42 | Portugal | 3 | 5 |
| 43 | Congo DR | 3 | 4 |
| 44 | Uzbekistan | 3 | 0 |
| 45 | England | 3 | 7 |
| 46 | Croatia | 3 | 6 |
| 47 | Ghana | 3 | 4 |
| 48 | Panama | 3 | 0 |
Head-to-Head
Last 5 meetings
Recent Form
Season Stats
| Mexico | South Africa | |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Position | #2 |
| 9 | Points | 4 |
| 3 | Played | 3 |
| 3 / 0 / 0 | W / D / L | 1 / 1 / 1 |
| 6 | Scored | 2 |
| 0 | Conceded | 3 |
| +6 | GD | -1 |
| 3.00 | PPG | 1.33 |
| 100% | Win % | 33% |
Key Stats
0%
Both Teams to Score
H2H (1 games)
H2H (1 games)
0%
Over 2.5 Goals
H2H history
H2H history
80%
Clean Sheets
Mexico this season
Mexico this season
25%
Clean Sheets
South Africa this season
South Africa this season
Mexico are 1st (9 pts). South Africa are 2nd (4 pts).
Goal Timing (This Season)
Mexico
0-15
1/–
16-30
1/–
31-45
2/2
46-60
2/1
61-75
3/–
76+
1/–
■ Scored ■ Conceded
South Africa
0-15
–/2
16-30
–/–
31-45
–/–
46-60
–/–
61-75
1/1
76+
1/1
■ Scored ■ Conceded
Top Scorers (This Season)
Mexico
| Julian Quinones | 4 G | 1 A |
| Raul Jimenez | 3 G |
Events
Match Events
- 0' The referee blows the starting whistle. The fans are roaring. The teams are ready for the match. Mexico is hosting South Africa for another epic battle.
- 5' It’s high time Javier Aguirre made some changes to put the his team’s game back to action.
- 9' Assisted by Erik Lira with the perfectly-timed delivery and Julian Quinones makes no mistake. 1-0!
- 14' A quiet spell here at Azteca. South Africa seem content sitting deep and soaking up pressure.
- 17' Controversy at the stadium! Teboho Mokoena argues furiously but the card stands.
- 22' Mexico are enjoying more possession but struggling to find a way through a disciplined South Africa backline.
- 23' The referee does not hesitate — a card for Brian Gutierrez on 23 minutes.
- 28' Mexico currently sit in the Array table. A result here could be decisive in the race for the top positions.
- 33' The home supporters are growing impatient. Mexico must find a spark to ignite this game.
- 38' Matchday of the Array and both teams know exactly what is at stake tonight.
- 43' Players seem to put ease on their energy level Spectators hardly appreciate such approach. Teams need to speed up the tempo.
- 48' will be watching from the dugout nervously. His Mexico side need to improve if they are to claim all three points.
- 49' Sphephelo Sithole is having his name booked by the referee on 49.
- 54' Israel Reyes has been disciplined this evening — perhaps mindful of those 0 cards already picked up this season.
- 56' Lyle Foster makes way for Thalente Mbatha at the 56 minute mark. A tactical switch from South Africa.
- 61' Another substitution for South Africa to replace Jayden Adams by Themba Zwane on 61 minute.
- 66' Another substitution for Mexico to replace Brian Gutierrez by Luis Chavez on 66 minute.
- 67' Raul Jimenez has been a constant threat and now delivers with a goal on 67 minutes.
- 72' The 26-year-old Thalente Mbatha has been sensational this season — 0 goals and 0 assists is a remarkable return.
- 74' South Africa receives a card for a hard tackle on 74.
- 76' Mexico make a change. Erik Lira trudges off to be replaced by Edson Alvarez on 76 minutes.
- 79' Time for substitution for Mexico. Julian Quinones is replaced by Alexis Vega.
- 84' The referee has no hesitation. Themba Zwane is booked for South Africa — card on 84.
- 89' Mexico is showing some good football. However, Mexico are ready to play back every minute. It might result in some problems for the home side. The game will hardly remain goalless.
- 90' Cesar Montes was booked on 90.
- The referee brings this contest to a close. Mexico take all three points.
Lineups
Mexico Lineups
4-1-2-3Starting XI
-
9
Raul Jimenez ↓ Armando Gonzalez 76'
- 23
- 25
- 15
-
8
Alvaro Fidalgo ↓ Gilberto Mora 66'
- 3
-
26
Brian Gutierrez ↓ Luis Chavez 66'
- 5
- 1
-
6
Erik Lira ↓ Edson Alvarez 76'
-
16
Julian Quinones ↓ Alexis Vega 79'
Bench
- 17
- 13
-
4
Edson Alvarez ↑ 76'
- 2
-
10
Alexis Vega ↑ 79'
- 7
- 18
- 11
-
24
Luis Chavez ↑ 66'
- 21
- 20
- 12
-
19
Gilberto Mora ↑ 66'
-
14
Armando Gonzalez ↑ 76'
- 22
Coach
Javier Aguirre
South Africa Lineups
5-3-2Starting XI
- 1
- 21
- 14
-
6
Aubrey Modiba ↓ Oswin Appollis 76'
- 19
- 20
-
23
Jayden Adams ↓ Themba Zwane 61'
- 13
- 4
- 15
-
9
Lyle Foster ↓ Thalente Mbatha 56'
Bench
- 16
- 22
- 24
- 2
- 18
- 3
- 26
-
5
Thalente Mbatha ↑ 56'
- 12
- 25
-
11
Themba Zwane ↑ 61'
-
17
Evidence Makgopa ↑ 76'
- 8
- 10
-
7
Oswin Appollis ↑ 76'
Coach
Hugo Broos
H2H
H2H Top Scorers
| Player | Goals |
|---|---|
| Raul Jimenez | 1 |
| Julian Quinones | 1 |
Head to Head
Mexico Form
South Africa Form
Predictions
Prediction accuracy
3 / 4
1.64
Mexico xG
Expected Goals
Dixon-Coles · Bivariate Poisson · Neg. Binomial · Elo
0.3
South Africa xG
I would bet for:
Under — clean sheet likely 78% + Under 2.5 goals 69%
Match Result
✓ CorrectActual: Mexico win
Both Teams to Score
✓ Correct
Avg goals/match: 1.94
Actual: No — clean sheet
Over / Under Goals
✓ O/U 2.5| Line | Over | Under | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ± 0.5 | 84% |
|
16% |
| ± 1.5 | 57% |
|
43% |
| ± 2.5 | 31% |
|
69% |
| ± 3.5 | 14% |
|
86% |
| ± 4.5 | 5% |
|
95% |
Double Chance
Mexico or Draw
89%
Draw or South Africa
35%
Mexico or South Africa
76%
Half-Time Result
✗ WrongActual: Mexico win at HT
Correct Score
✓ In top 12
1 – 0
23%
2 – 0
Actual
0 – 0
16.3%
3 – 0
10%
1 – 1
7.3%
2 – 1
5.8%
4 – 0
4.2%
3 – 1
3.4%
0 – 1
3.3%
4 – 1
1.5%
5 – 0
1.4%
1 – 2
0.9%
Asian Handicap — Mexico
| Handicap | Mexico covers | Push | South Africa covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| -2.5 | 19% | — | 81% |
| -2 | 19% | 22% | 59% |
| -1.5 | 41% | — | 59% |
| -1 | 41% | 29% | 30% |
| -0.5 | 70% | — | 30% |
| +0.5 | 95% | — | 5% |
| +1 | 95% | 4% | 1% |
| +1.5 | 99% | — | 1% |
| +2 | 99% | 1% | 0% |
| +2.5 | 100% | — | 0% |
Clean Sheet
Mexico keeps clean sheet
74%
✓
South Africa keeps clean sheet
20%
✓
Predictions are statistical estimates based on season form, H2H history, and a Poisson model. Not financial advice.