Mexico coach Javier Aguirre admits they had to overcome early nerves before securing their 2-0 victory over South Africa in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The win at the Estadio Azteca was a significant one for Mexico, who had never previously won their first match at a World Cup. In their seven previous tournament openers, they had recorded five defeats and two draws.
Despite controlling most of the contest against South Africa, Aguirre revealed that the occasion initially affected some of his players.
“When you’re starting out the World Cup, of course your legs will shake,” Aguirre said after the match. “Never in 25 years had anyone had cramps, but three of them had cramps today.
“We were in awe when we saw the stadium and they got a little bit of stage fright. But we never suffered. We could have scored four and it would have been completely different.”
Mexico dominated large periods of the game and collected three valuable points in Group A, strengthening their chances of reaching the knockout stages.
Although sections of the home crowd expressed frustration late in the match, Aguirre remained focused on the positive outcome.
“I didn’t hear boos. But it could have been a 4-0 game. Two-nil is not so much. But we got three points, which is amazing,” he said.
“If someone is booing, it’s the Mexico players’ obligation to make sure that doesn’t happen again. But it didn’t have an impact on us.”
Attention now turns to Mexico’s next group match against South Korea. Aguirre insisted his side are not concerned about finishing top of the group at this stage.
“We’re zero obsessed to win the group,” he said. “Today we’re just focused on Korea. It’s not relevant. It’s not our priority. Our priority is to focus on Korea, to keep going step by step and prepare for the future.”
South Africa coach Hugo Broos accepted the decision to send off Sphephelo Sithole early in the second half but questioned the late red card shown to substitute Themba Zwane.
“The first red card, I don’t think we have to say something about it, but the second red card I think the Mexican player blocked my player and the referee decides something else,” Broos said.
“So it is a pity that we have to finish this game with nine players.”
Despite the defeat, Broos felt his team showed encouraging signs and believes improvement in possession will be key ahead of their next fixture.
“I think my team played a good game. In some moments Mexico were even desperate and didn’t know how to find the spaces,” he said. “But we must try and be better in the next game when we have the ball.”
