Hosts Mexico face South Africa under pressure to deliver in opener

MEXICO CITY: Mexico begin their home World Cup campaign against South Africa on Thursday with expectations high for a winning start at the Estadio Azteca, which is returning to the tournament stage for the third time.

The Group A fixture brings the World Cup back to the famous stadium after it hosted matches in 1970 and 1986. The meeting also recalls the opening game of the 2010 tournament, when South Africa held Mexico to a 1-1 draw in Johannesburg.

Mexico go into the match as favourites and are aware that three points could be important in the race to finish top of a group that also features South Korea and the Czech Republic. Those two teams are also scheduled to play later on Thursday at Guadalajara Stadium.

Mexico seek strong start at home

Javier Aguirre's side head into the tournament on an eight-match unbeaten run, matching the longest streak Mexico have carried into a World Cup. That run has added to optimism ahead of the expanded 48-team competition.

More than 80,000 supporters are expected at the renovated Azteca for the opening match, creating what is likely to be a celebratory atmosphere. But the occasion also brings pressure for a team widely expected to make home advantage count.

For Mexico, failing to take all three points would be seen as an early disappointment in a tournament in which they are aiming for a long-awaited breakthrough on home soil.

South Africa target another upset

South Africa are back at the World Cup for the first time since they hosted the event in 2010. Coach Hugo Broos believes his largely home-based squad can trouble more highly rated opposition despite the challenge of facing the hosts in the opener.

Broos, a Belgian who also faced Mexico at the 1986 World Cup, said the atmosphere would be significant but insisted his team must stick to its approach. “For us it will be a fantastic experience,” he said. “It is very important that we keep ourselves to the game plan and don’t listen to what is happening in the stands,” he said.

South Africa's preparations were affected by visa problems that delayed the arrival of several members of the travelling party, reducing their time to adjust to conditions in central Mexico. Even so, Broos's team came through a difficult qualifying campaign and will look to frustrate Mexico again, 16 years after the draw between the two sides in the previous World Cup opener they contested.