When Bafana Bafana walk onto the pitch for the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in June, it will mark exactly 16 years since South Africa, as host nation, kicked off the first World Cup on African soil against Mexico in Johannesburg.
Fast forward to 11 June 2026, and history repeats itself — with the same two nations meeting again in the tournament’s opening fixture, this time with South Africa playing away in Mexico.
“The same two countries. The same opening fixture. Exactly 16 years later. That is not a coincidence that football often gives you. When history hands you a gift like that, you do something with it,” the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, said on Thursday in Pretoria during a media briefing.
As part of commemorating the historic encounter, the two countries will stage a Legends rematch on 8 June 2026 — three days before the official opener.
The legends of the 2010 Bafana Bafana squad are set to face their Mexican counterparts in Pachuca, Mexico, revisiting the iconic clash from the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
“The South African Football Association (SAFA) and the South African Masters and Legends Football Association have been working together to identify 20 of the players and team management from the 2010 squad. The playing kit will be secured by SAFA through its sponsor, Adidas,” the Minister said.
The match will be hosted in partnership with Pachuca, home to Club Pachuca, one of Mexico’s most historic football clubs.
“We are deeply grateful to Pachuca for the role they are playing in making this possible. This is not a match happening next to the World Cup. This is a match happening because two football nations, with a shared moment in history, decided to honour that moment properly,” McKenzie said.
Following the match, the South African Legends will remain in Mexico to host coaching clinics on 9 and 10 June, sharing their experience with young Mexican players and South African diaspora footballers.
They will also attend the opening match on 11 June before returning home the following day.
Ekhaya Centre to showcase SA culture
To promote South Africa’s culture and talent, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, in partnership with Brand South Africa and SA Tourism, will host the Ekhaya Centre at the Centro Nacional de las Artes in Mexico City.
“Ekhaya will be a place to watch football. It will be a place to see South African art, to hear South African music, to eat South African food. It will be a media centre for the journalists covering Bafana’s campaign.
“It will be a fan park and a fan engagement space. It will be a venue for business and investment networking – because when our flag is flying, our economy should be working alongside it,” the Minister said.
South Africa will also participate at the Aldea Global centre in Mexico City, alongside exhibitions from the 48 participating nations, with up to 20 South African artists set to perform.
Additional activation centres will be hosted in Atlanta and Monterrey, aligned with Bafana Bafana’s match schedule, to further boost fan engagement and promote South Africa on the global stage.
Cultural ambassadors to travel with the team
The department will also support South African artists to perform at the Ekhaya Centre and other activation hubs.
“We will be supporting South African chefs to cater to our fans, our guests, and curious Mexicans who want to experience South African cuisine. We will also support local podcasters and journalists to cover the tournament and tell our story in our own voices.
“To the South African journalists, podcasters and influencers travelling with us: you are not going to Mexico on holiday. You are going to render a service to your country.
“You will be telling South Africans, in their own voices and on their own platforms, what their players are doing on the world stage. That role is not always adequately recognised in this country, and it should be,” the Minister said.
Details of the selection process will be announced by the department in the coming days. -SAnews.gov.za
