Bafana Bafana Set for Jamaica Test Ahead of World Cup Opener

South Africa’s national team will face Jamaica in their final warm-up match in Pachuca on Friday, as Hugo Broos’ men prepare for their opening 2026 FIFA World Cup clash against hosts Mexico. Despite visa delays disrupting their arrival, the squad is focused on acclimatising to high altitude and fine-tuning tactics before the tournament begins.

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos taking his charges through the first training in Mexico this week after the visa fiasco delayed their departure from South Africa

By LINDA XIMBA

THE build-up to the tournament was disrupted by an administrative blunder by the South African Football Association (SAFA), which failed to secure visas for key personnel on time, throwing the camp into uncertainty.

While a one-day delay may seem insignificant to some, elite sport is built on meticulous planning. Disruptions can create anxiety and uncertainty, particularly for players preparing to represent their country on football’s biggest stage.

Despite the setback, Broos’ men arrived in Mexico on Tuesday and headed straight to their base in Pachuca. After settling into their hotel, they later completed their first training session.

Their opponents, Jamaica, are ranked 74th in the world, and Broos believes the Reggae Boyz will provide exactly the kind of challenge his side needs before facing Mexico.

"That is something we needed. We played against Nicaragua last week, but the time between that game and the first game against Mexico was too long. So I am happy with Jamaica; they're ranked 74th, so it will be a good opponent. For us, it will be the last test before that opening game, so again, I am very happy with it," said Broos.

Bafana Bafana face Mexico in the opening Group A match on 11 June at the iconic Azteca Stadium. The group also includes South Korea and Czechia.

Jamaica provides crucial test

One of the main reasons Broos wanted his squad in Mexico early was to allow them time to acclimatise to the country's high-altitude conditions. Having experienced similar conditions during the 1986 FIFA World Cup as a Belgian international, Broos understands the importance of adequate preparation.

Bafana Bafana players loosening up for the first time in Mexico after a long flight from home. They play in the opening game of the tournament against host Mexico.

Modiba fitness boost

There was also positive news from the Bafana camp regarding Mamelodi Sundowns left-back Aubrey Modiba. The defender arrived in camp while recovering from a hamstring injury, but Broos is confident he will be available for the tournament opener.

Broos confirmed that Modiba will not feature against Jamaica as the technical team is unwilling to take any risks.

"I think Aubrey is very close to training with the group if everything goes well for him. I don't expect him for the game against Jamaica; we will not take any risks with him. But I am very sure he will be there for the opening game."

SIDEBAR

Bafana Bafana’s 2026 World Cup Fixtures (Group A)

Date	Match	Venue	Kick-off (SAST)
11 June 2026	Mexico vs South Africa	Estadio Azteca, Mexico City	21:00
18 June 2026	Czechia vs South Africa	Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta	18:00
25 June 2026	South Africa vs South Korea	Estadio BBVA, Monterrey	03:00

• Group A Teams: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czechia

• Qualification format: Top two teams qualify automatically; best eight third-placed teams across all groups also advance.

General 2026 FIFA World Cup Fixture Overview

• Tournament dates: 11 June – 19 July 2026

• Hosts: USA, Mexico, Canada

• Teams: 48 (expanded format)

• Matches: 104 across 16 host cities

Opening Matches (11 June 2026)

• Mexico vs South Africa – Mexico City

• South Korea vs Czechia – Guadalajara

Other Key Group Stage Fixtures

• 12 June: Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina (Toronto)

• 12 June: USA vs Paraguay (Los Angeles)

• 13 June: Brazil vs Morocco (New Jersey)

• 13 June: Qatar vs Switzerland (San Francisco Bay Area)

• 14 June: Germany vs Curaçao (Houston)

• 14 June: Netherlands vs Japan (Dallas)

• 15 June: Spain vs Cape Verde (Atlanta)

• 15 June: Belgium vs Egypt (Seattle)

• 16 June: France vs Senegal (New Jersey)

• 16 June: Argentina vs Algeria (Kansas City)

• 17 June: England vs Croatia (Dallas)

• 17 June: Portugal vs DR Congo (Houston)

Knockout Rounds

• Round of 32: Begins 29 June 2026

• Final: 19 July 2026, MetLife Stadium, New Jersey