Mexico's captain Edson lvarez said that his team can go far in the World Cup."I'm happy because we have faced those rivals before, " Alvarez said to TUDN of his team's group. The team will face South Korea, South Africa and one playoff A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea ; UEFA Playoff D | 2026 FIFA World Cup Draw"You feel a responsibility as one of the hosts to open this great event https://www.mexicosoccerstore.com/collections/guillermo-martinez-jersey, " lvarez said. "We rely on the extra support the fans give us, and opening the event against South Africa helps, and we can do great things."Mexico's coach Javier Aguirre said that not knowing one of their rivals for the World Cup would be a challenge for one of the host nations."We recently played Korea. We know South Africa very well, but the Europeans are very different. I will put my assistants to work and analyze them all to find opponents that resemble them, " Aguirre , in his third stint as Mexico's coach, was at the helm when Mexico played South Africa at the 2010 inaugural is the World Cup Opener?Mexco will open the 2026 World Cup on June 11 against South Africa at a renovated Estadio Azteca on June 11. Mexico has played South Africa once in World Cup history at the inaugural match of the 2010 World Cup, a 1-1 draw that was also played on June Mexican team back then was coached by Javier Aguirre, who is at the helm now for a third that match https://www.mexicosoccerstore.com/collections/armando-gonzalez-jersey, former Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez scored for the Mexican side. Marquez is now an assistant in the national match will be the first official one at the Azteca stadium, which has been closed for renovations since May by The Associated great stories delivered right to your inbox?