South Africa head coach Hugo Broos has taken positives from his side’s performance despite their 2-0 defeat to hosts Mexico in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the iconic Azteca Stadium.

Bafana Bafana put up a spirited display against El Tri but ultimately fell short as goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez secured all three points for the hosts.

The contest was also marked by disciplinary drama, with three players sent off in the second half. South Africa’s Siphephelo Sithole and substitute Themba Zwane both received red cards, while Mexico captain César Montes was also dismissed.

Speaking after the match, Broos commended his players for their effort and competitiveness, but acknowledged that possession mistakes proved costly.

“I thought we played well overall, but we lost possession in areas where we shouldn’t have. We need to improve our play when we have the ball,” the Belgian coach said.

Broos noted that South Africa’s struggles to retain possession at crucial moments allowed Mexico to capitalize and ultimately control key phases of the game.

The veteran tactician believes addressing those shortcomings will be essential as his side looks to bounce back in the tournament.

South Africa will now shift their focus to their second Group-stage fixture against the Czech Republic on June 18, where they will be hoping to get their World Cup campaign back on track.