Published Jun 8, 5:38am ET by
Alex Dudley - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Jun 8, 5:38am ET
Credit: Shutterstock
Updated Jun 8, 5:38am ET
Mexico kick off their home World Cup on June 11, as they face South Africa in a rematch of the opening fixture from the 2010 World Cup.
All eyes will be on the hosts, as they will be expected to open their competition with a comfortable win. But, will the pressure of home advantage weigh heavy on El Tri?
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|
|---|---|
| Mexico | -240 |
| Draw | +365 |
| South Africa | +775 |
June 11 has been a date in the diary for fans of Mexican soccer since the Americas won the bid to host the 2026 World Cup. Mexico will be hosting the tournament for the third time, as they bid to emulate their historic run to the quarterfinals, achieved in 1970 and 1986.
Javier Aguirre’s team have been building momentum throughout this year, winning each of their last three, and scoring an impressive eight goals. High profile draws against Portugal and Belgium showcase their ability against the very best nations, and they will face nothing of that standard in Group A.
Raul Jimenez will be a key player after scoring ten in his last 17 internationals. Alexis Vega and Santiago Gimenez will provide pace from the wide areas.
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Thursday’s opening night clash will spark memories of South Africa’s home World Cup, as this was the exact clash that kicked off the 2010 edition.
However, crucially, South Africa will not have the home field advantage this year, and their recent form is concerning. The African nation have failed to win in four of their five matches this year, but they can take confidence from a recent 1-0 win against Jamaica.
This is a step up in opposition, and it is hard to overlook the fact that they have scored no more than once in any of their five fixtures this year. That lack of attacking threat will be detrimental to their chances of progression in a competitive Group A this summer.
It is a slight concern that Mexico have failed to win in two previous head-to-head encounters against South Africa, but we still fully expect the hosts to kick off the tournament with a comfortable home win based on their recent excellent form.
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Pick
Mexico (-240)
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