JOHANNESBURG, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Excitement swept across South Africa on Thursday as the nation rallied behind national football team Bafana Bafana ahead of its opening match against co-host Mexico at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to local media reports.
The highly anticipated clash, scheduled for 9:00 p.m. South African time at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca, marks South Africa's return to football's biggest stage for the first time since the 2010 World Cup, when the country hosted the tournament.
In a coincidence that has captured the attention of many South Africans, Bafana Bafana also opened their 2010 World Cup campaign against Mexico, earning a 1-1 draw in Johannesburg in the tournament's opening match.
Across the country, supporters were preparing to don the national team's green and gold colors and gather at public viewing venues, restaurants and homes to cheer on the team.
Public viewing events were organized at several locations in Gauteng Province, including Tembisa Mall and the Mall of Africa, where government officials, former players and supporters were set to come together for match-day celebrations.
Support for the national team also came from senior government officials. According to local broadcaster SABC, Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie, Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola, who were in Mexico ahead of the tournament opener, expressed confidence in the team ahead of the opening match.
McKenzie praised the team's determination in qualifying for the tournament and urged the players to embrace the challenge, saying they should use being underestimated as motivation.
Earlier this week, Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos said the team was ready for the challenge despite playing in front of a largely Mexican crowd.
"We do know we have the support of the nation," Broos was quoted by local media as saying ahead of the match. "The whole country is behind us, and we are playing for everyone who believes in us."
Messages of encouragement also came from schools and communities. Local media reported that Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile joined pupils at a Johannesburg school in expressing support for the national team, calling on South Africans to unite behind the players as they represent the country on the global stage. Students also voiced optimism despite the difficult task facing Bafana Bafana against the co-host.
As kickoff approached, anticipation continued to build across the country, with many South Africans planning to watch the match together and hoping the national team could begin its World Cup campaign with a memorable result. ■