South Africa to Open 2026 World Cup as Africa Draws Tough Groups

South Africa will open the 2026 FIFA World Cup after being drawn to face hosts Mexico in Mexico City on 11 June, setting up a nostalgic repeat of the 2010 tournament opener. It will be sixteen years to the day that South Africa played Mexico in Johannesburg in the first match of a Football World Cup to be played in Africa.

The draw, held in Washington, confirmed challenging but intriguing paths for all African teams, with several historic rematches lined up.

Bafana Bafana return to the tournament for the first time since 2010 and are in Group A with Mexico, South Korea, and a European team, which will be confirmed once a series of playoffs are completed. It will be one of Denmark, Ireland, North Macedonia, or the Czech Republic.

South Africa coach Hugo Broos has rebuilt the side into a resilient outfit, taking them to third at the last Africa Cup of Nations and guiding them past Nigeria in qualifying for the World Cup.

Morocco, Africa’s record-setting semi-finalists in 2022, were handed a blockbuster opener against Brazil in Group C. Scotland and Haiti round out the group. Senegal face another marquee contest after landing France in Group I, a rematch of their famous 1-0 win in the 2002 opener. Norway and another playoff winner, which is yet to be confirmed, complete the group.

Elsewhere, Côte d’Ivoire meet Germany, Ecuador, and Curaçao, while Egypt face Belgium, Iran, and New Zealand. Ghana face a difficult road with England, Croatia, and Panama, and Cape Verde’s debut will see them take on Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia. The Democratic Republic of the Congo could still qualify through playoffs and if they do, they will be in a group with Portugal, Uzbekistan, and Colombia.