/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.footballwhispers.com%2Fmain%2F2023%2F11%2Fadam.jpg){kind=avatar}
/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.footballwhispers.com%2Fmain%2F2026%2F05%2FMexico-predictions-SUSA.jpg)
:no_upscale()/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsdata-service.n10.xyz%2Fassets%2Fimages%2Fteam_logo%2F76%2F7677660a9bcbbc5a37efca527efeeb4f.png)
Mexico host South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in the opening game of the World Cup on Thursday night.
Interestingly, it is a repeat of the opening match of the 2010 tournament, which South Africa hosted as it finished 1-1.
World Cup co-hosts Mexico will be hoping for a victory this time around though to kick off an intriguing Group A that also contains South Korea and the Czech Republic.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Mexico vs. South Africa key stats
- Mexico are unbeaten in eight games in all competitions (W6, D2).
- South Africa are winless in five matches across all competitions (D3, l2).
- Mexico have won two of the previous four H2Hs (D1, L1).
Mexico vs. South Africa preview: Hosts to start with win?
| Mexico | vs | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | FIFA Ranking | 60 |
| Guillermo Ochoa (152) | Most Caps | Ronwen Williams (62) |
| Raul Jimenez (45) | Most Goals | Themba Zwane (12) |
| 1215 | Total Caps | 464 |
| 117 | Total Goals | 61 |
| 0 | Uncapped Players | 2 |
Mexico are the first nation to host the World Cup three times after also doing so in 1970 and 1986, albeit as co-hosts with Canada and the United States.
In both those tournaments, El Tri reached the quarter-finals, the furthest they have ever gone in a World Cup, and as a host nation, will be hoping for similar success this time around.
Mexico are the highest-ranked nation in Group A according to the official FIFA world rankings, so will be expecting to qualify for the knockouts, and will also be favourites against the lowest-ranked nation in the group South Africa.
Carlos Aguirre has reported no fresh concerns in his squad, meaning he is expected to go full strength against Bafana Bafana.
This will be South Africa's fourth World Cup appearance, and first since hosting it in 2010.
Incidentally, their opening game of that tournament was against Mexico, which finished in a 1-1 draw.
Bafana Bafana have never made it past the group stage before, and despite being the lowest-ranked nation in Group A, this will be their ultimate goal.
Like their opponents, Vincent Tseka has reported no fresh concerns in his squad, and so South Africa are also expected to field their strongest XI.
Mexico vs. South Africa form guide & betting tips
| Mexico | vs | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
DDWWW |
Form | LDLDD |
| 9 | Goals For | 4 |
| 2 | Goals Against | 6 |
N/A |
World Cup | N/A |
Whispers predicts: Mexico 2-0 South Africa
Mexico are 4/9 (1.44) favourites to win, but while we agree with the bookies, these odds are too short for us to back.
Instead, our first pick holds slightly better value, which is BTTS – No at 4/7 (1.57).
Five of Mexico's six friendly wins leading up to the World Cup were to nil, while they conceded just once in a 5-1 thrashing of Serbia last time out.
Our next bet delves into the HT/FT market, with El Tri having led at HT in five of their last six games.
Thus, HT/FT – Mexico/Mexico at 6/5 (2.20) also appeals to us.
Our final punt focuses on defender Johan Vasquez, who has interestingly netted three times across his last three appearances for club and country.
Set-pieces could be pivotal and he is a threat in both boxes, so Vasquez to score anytime at 12/1 (13.00) could be worth a flutter.
Overall, we are predicting a 2-0 Mexico win, which is available at 11/2 (6.50) with bookies.
> BTTS – No at 4/7 (1.57) | Likelihood: Probable
> HT/FT – Mexico/Mexico at 6/5 (2.20) | Likelihood: Possible
> Vasquez to score anytime at 12/1 (13.00) | Likelihood: Outsider