Williams Raring For World Cup Opener Against Mexico
Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams has expressed his excitement and belief that South Africa can make history by reaching the knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the first time.
The draw placed South Africa in Group A on Friday, where they will open their campaign against co-hosts Mexico.
Reliving the 2010 World Cup Opener
The much-anticipated opening match of Group A will see Bafana Bafana face Mexico on 11 June 2026, at the historic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
This fixture marks a repeat of the 2010 FIFA World Cup opener, which was famously played exactly 16 years prior (11 June 2010) at FNB Stadium in South Africa. That match ended in a 1-1 draw, immortalized by Siphiwe Tshabalala’s spectacular opening goal before Rafael Márquez secured the equalizer.
Interestingly, Mexico coach Javier Aguirre, who was in charge of El Tri during the 2010 tournament, is back to lead the co-hosts in 2026. The Estadio Azteca, which hosted the 1986 World Cup final where Argentina defeated West Germany, adds another layer of historical significance to the venue.
Williams Backs Bafana Bafana for Knockout Stage
Williams shared his thoughts on the draw, welcoming the challenge of playing the host nation and the familiar faces they will meet in the group.
“The replay of the 2010 opening game,” Williams told SuperSport TV. “It’s nice to have to play against the host nation because obviously the country will get behind them. And yeah, there’s a lot of, you know, familiar faces as well that we’ll be up against South Korea.”
Regarding their chances in Group A, which also includes Korea Republic and a European playoff winner (Denmark, North Macedonia, Czechia, or Republic of Ireland), the Bafana Bafana skipper emphasized a winning mentality.
“So, you can never say where you’re going to get points or where you’re going to drop points. Every game has its own challenges,” Williams said.
“We’re going to go out every game, believing that we can win, that we can get a result. We don’t want to just be there to add numbers.”
Williams stressed that the team views this as an opportunity to showcase their progress. “This is our first time in a very long time to be part of such a prestige tournament. So, we believe, you know, that we’re capable enough to get out of the group.”
Argentina are the reigning World Cup champions, having won the 2022 tournament in Qatar by beating France on penalties. The full fixture list and venues for the 2026 tournament are expected to be announced soon.
