16 Years After, Tshabalala Recalls His Goal as Mexico, South Africa Kickoff the Party
Sixteen years exactly today, South Africa became the first country in the continent to host and kick off the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Johannesburg’s Soccer City.
On that cold June 11 afternoon in 2010, Siphiwe Tshabalala’s left boot sent a rocket into the top corner of Mexico net at Soccer City for the first goal of the tournament.
It wasn’t just a goal. It was Goal for South Africa! Goal for all of Africa!”
Exactly 16 years later, South Africa and Mexico are locked to face each other once again in a World Cup opening fixture. This time it is the Mexicans who as co-host of the 2026 edition, are taking on Bafana Bafana at the 87,523 capacity Estadio Banorte in Mexico City.
