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
19 games this season
🟨 3.3/game
⚽ 12.0 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 | Curacao | 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' Packed stands, loud atmosphere — Mexico and South Africa get this one started.
- 5' The 26-year-old Thalente Mbatha has been sensational this season — 0 goals and 0 assists is a remarkable return.
- 9' A stunning finish from Julian Quinones — that came from absolutely nowhere!
- 14' South Africa has dominated the recent head-to-head record, winning 0 of the last 1 meetings.
- 17' Teboho Mokoena was booked on 17.
- 22' Mexico seems to be on a short break. The game is mainly concentrated in the center. It’s high time they got back to action. Otherwise, it looks like a goalless game.
- 23' That is a card for Mexico. Brian Gutierrez will be fuming at that decision.
- 28' South Africa are happy to let the opposition have the ball in their own half. The trap is set.
- 33' Matchday of the Array and both teams know exactly what is at stake tonight.
- 38' We miss some good tackles and strikes. Is there anyone on the field to put the game back to action?
- 43' Players seem to put ease on their energy level Spectators hardly appreciate such approach. Teams need to speed up the tempo.
- 48' The home supporters are growing impatient. Mexico must find a spark to ignite this game.
- 49' The referee reaches into his pocket. Out comes the card for Sphephelo Sithole.
- 54' It looks surprising Mexico does not make any changes. Oswin Appollis has some obvious troubles when approaching to the goal.
- 56' Thalente Mbatha gets the nod from South Africa. He replaces Lyle Foster and will look to change the dynamic.
- 61' South Africa manager makes another effort to make the tables turned. Themba Zwane is hanging Jayden Adams on the field on 61 minute.
- 66' The Mexico bench stirs into life. Brian Gutierrez is withdrawn and Luis Chavez gets his opportunity.
- 67' GOAL! Raul Jimenez scores on 67. Assisted by Roberto Alvarado
- 72' South Africa are keeping things exceptionally tight at the back. It will take something special to break them down.
- 74' Poor challenge from Nkosinathi Sibisi. The referee spots it immediately and shows the card.
- 76' The Mexico bench stirs into life. Erik Lira is withdrawn and Edson Alvarez gets his opportunity.
- 79' The Mexico manager makes a substitution. Julian Quinones departs to be replaced by Alexis Vega.
- 84' Controversy at the stadium! Themba Zwane argues furiously but the card stands.
- 89' It is a cagey affair so far. Mexico in their 4-1-2-3 trying to find a way past South Africa's compact 5-3-2.
- 90' The referee has no hesitation. Cesar Montes is booked for Mexico — card on 90.
- Full Time. Mexico beats South Africa
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.