Aguirre’s Resurgent Mexico Threatens Bafana
Mexico coach Javier Aguirre has issued a significant warning to Bafana Bafana, declaring that El Tri are physically robust, deeply united, and fully prepared to launch their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.
The host nation statement was emphatic on Thursday night, as Mexico thrashed Serbia 5-1 in their final pre-World Cup warm-up match at Toluca’s Estadio Nemesio Díez.
The victory extended Mexico’s remarkable unbeaten streak on home soil to 23 matches (W16, D7), with Fulham striker Raúl Jiménez spearheading the attack.
“The win was good, but the team’s approach was excellent because of the way we handled things on the field,” Aguirre remarked post-match.
“We have been preparing for 20 to 22 months, and selecting the final squad wasn’t easy. We arrive in good spirits and in peak physical condition. I reaffirm that we are a very strong, united group—a family. Whoever plays on the pitch, I am completely at ease.”
Mexico enters the global showpiece on an eight-game unbeaten streak across all competitions. Their stringent preparation calendar included victories over Panama (the side that frustrated South Africa in March), Ghana, and Australia, alongside highly competitive draws against European powerhouses Belgium and Portugal.
The looming World Cup opening fixture at the Estadio Azteca on 11 June carries immense historic irony. Aguirre was at the helm of the Mexican national team during the iconic 2010 FIFA World Cup opener against South Africa at FNB Stadium, which ended in a 1-1 stalemate.
However, Bafana Bafana also evoke painful memories for the veteran tactician; it was a shocking 1-0 defeat to Stuart Baxter’s South African side in the Round of 16 at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations that led directly to Aguirre’s dismissal as head coach of tournament hosts Egypt.
Now embarking on his third distinct World Cup stint with Mexico—having previously led them in 2002 and 2010—Aguirre is determined to surpass El Tri’s historical limits.
In his debut 2002 campaign in South Korea and Japan, Mexico fell in the Round of 16 to bitter rivals the United States, who return alongside Canada as co-hosts of this expanded 2026 tournament.
