Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has embraced the underdog tag ahead of their FIFA World Cup opener against co-hosts Mexico. Photo: AFP
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has embraced their underdog tag in Group A at the upcoming Fifa World Cup 2026, vowing that they’ll wear their hearts on their sleeves and repay the faith shown in the team by people back home.
Bafana are set to face co-hosts Mexico in the opening game of the tournament at Azteca Stadium on Thursday (9pm kick-off SA time). The Broos-led team will head into the match as underdogs on paper, as the Mexicans are expected to have their 12th man cheering and cajoling them on from start to finish.
Besides the support, Mexico are ranked 14th in the world, a whopping 46 places ahead of Bafana, who also fall outside the top 10 in the CAF rankings. Given all that, Broos is pleased that his team are regarded as underdogs in Group A, which also includes South Korea and Czech Republic, insisting that it can only motivate them to succeed.
“I am very happy with that,” Broos explained after their 1-1 draw with Jamaica at their base in Pachuca, near Mexico City, on Saturday.
