Bafana Bafana have arrived at their base camp in Pachuca, Mexico, ahead of the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup next week.
The team arrived in Mexico on Tuesday in high spirits after a long trip from Johannesburg, South Africa, that included a two-hour refuelling stop in the island country of Cape Verde just off the West African coast. A huge media contingent was waiting at the airport and outside the team hotel, with the locals saying that interest in Bafana Bafana is at a record high as the opening match of the global tournament will be between the hosts Mexico and South Africans at the Estadio Azteca on June 11, 2026.
All the players and personnel are in camp in Pachuca, including the Team Doctor Tshepo Molobi and Head Performance Analyst Sinesipho Mali. Bafana Bafana assistant coach Helman Mkhalele and team head of security, Mdu Mbatha, are the only outstanding members of the team, but they have also secured their US visas and will be traveling to Mexico in the afternoon (South Africa time) on Tuesday, 2 June 2026.
The South African senior men’s national team will be based in Pachuca for the World Cup and they will train at the Universidad del Futbol. Coach Hugo Broos’ charges are staying at Camino Real Pachuca hotel, located just outside Pachuca.
Bafana Bafana will have their first training session in Mexico this afternoon (Mexico time).
