Mexico’s Coach Reflects on Victory Over South Africa in World Cup Opener

Javier Aguirre, head coach of the Mexican national team, discussed his team’s victory against South Africa in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup.

Mexico secured a valuable 2-0 win against Bafana Bafana at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, marking their first match in the group stage of the tournament.

In post-match comments, Aguirre remarked, “We did not play well in the first half, even though we could have easily won by a score of 3-0. We were clearly superior in the first half, but the score did not reflect that.”.

He added, “The second goal and the red card allowed us to relax and not get too anxious. However, overcoming the first match and starting with a win is a good lesson; we can definitely improve for our next game.”.

Regarding the team’s performance during certain phases of the match, he explained, “The atmosphere was challenging, with crowds in the streets and packed stands putting significant pressure on the players.”.

Aguirre continued, “Three players suffered from muscle cramps; it was an emotionally intense situation. Fortunately, they calmed down and maintained possession. We launched numerous attacks, totaling 16 shots on goal, and we never struggled defensively.”.

He concluded by addressing the fans’ reactions during parts of the game: “Fans have the right to express their opinions. I did not hear the boos myself, but a scoreline of 4-0 generally pleases fans. This is just the beginning of the World Cup; we have overcome our nerves and secured three points, which is very welcome.”.