Bustling Mexico City plays host to the first game of the 2026 World Cup as Mexico takes on South Africa in a re-run of the 2010 World Cup on Thursday, 11th June. It’s played at the iconic Estadio Azteca, where 83,000+ will be in attendance, and to say that I’m absolutely buzzing about the first game getting underway would be a massive understatement. Six weeks of almost wall-to-wall football start here.
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11/06/2026
TL; DR – My 8/1 Mexico vs South Africa Bet Builder
| Bet | Bookie | Odds | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico to win | BetVictor | 2/5 | 2 |
| Under 3.5 goals | Ladbrokes | 21/40 | 3 |
| Raul Jimenez 2+ shots on target | BetVictor | 11/8 | 1 |
| Mexico over 5 corners | Ladbrokes | 10/11 | 1 |
| Acca | Ladbrokes | 8/1 | 1 |
*Odds correct at 10:00 BST on 09/06/2026. Odds subject to change.
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Bet 1: Mexico to Win
Mexico head into the opener as strong favourites, and rightly so. There might only be 10 spots between the two nations in the FIFA rankings, but Mexico are a far superior outfit to the South Africans.
Javier Aguirre has the team ticking along nicely, instilling the intensity and organisation they’ve previously lacked. They’re unbeaten in their last eight and have ground results against Belgium, Portugal, Australia, Serbia and Ghana in that period.
Home support and a rocking Estadio Azteca are all I need to get involved, even though on its own, 2/5 with the best World Cup betting sites isn’t all that exciting a price.
Bet 2: Under 3.5 Goals
I’m continuing the theme of playing it a little safe here. Under 3.5 goals is a big margin to work with, but there’s been nothing in the warm-up games to suggest that this tournament will be packed with goals.
With the heat and humidity, it could be a bit of a slog, and teams will know that preserving energy will be key for longevity here.
Mexico are very good at the back these days. They’ve only conceded just two goals in their last eight games, and while it was tempting to take the win-to-nil market, I think, as part of a wider bet builder, this market makes a lot of sense.
Bet 3: Raul Jimenez 2+ Shots on Target
Fulham announced this week that Raul Jimenez’s contract would not be renewed. I’m a bit surprised by this, as he’s generally a solid performer and a decent Premier League striker at that.
But what better way to put yourself in the shop window to get a club next season than a rousing World Cup?
If Mexico are to win, and I think they will, then Jimenez will need to have some influence on the game. World Cup odds of 11/8 to get two or more shots on target looks like another big price here, and he bagged a goal in their 5-1 drubbing of Serbia last week, which bodes well for Thursday.
Bet 4: Mexico 5+ Corners
My final Mexico vs South Africa betting tip is for the hosts to get five or more corners.
Mexico should dominate both possession and territory here. Their expansive 4-3-3 formation utilises width brilliantly with the likes of Julián Quiñones, Roberto Alvarado, and Alexis Vega all well supported by their full-backs.
South Africa will sit and absorb, looking to break on the counter. This matchup is ideal for the corners market, and backing 5+ for Mexico at 10/11, a line they’ve covered in four of their last seven games, is the way to go here.
My 8/1 Mexico vs South Africa World Cup 2026 Bet Builder
