Volgende wedstrijd · Group A · Matchday 1

Mexico vs South Africa

11 Jun 2026 · Mexico City, Mexico

Gratis live-tracker voor de openingswedstrijd van het WK 2026. De gepubliceerde kans vooraf komt uit ons gekalibreerde ensemble en wordt bevroren bij de opstellingsbevestiging; de terugblik na afloop toetst dat bevroren getal aan de uitslag. Tijdens het spel leest een aparte live-winkans het model opnieuw uit op basis van de stand en de resterende tijd. Die ververst ongeveer één keer per minuut, loopt vertraagd en is beschrijvend, geen gokproduct. Methodologie: methodologiedocumenten.

← Voorspelling voor de wedstrijd
Scheduled
Mexico
–:–
South Africa

Live score, descriptive in-match stats, and a post-match calibration recap appear here once the match kicks off.

CalibrationBacktested to a 0.572 Brier score across 987 out-of-sample major-tournament matches (2014–2024): lower is better, and a no-skill 1-in-3 guess scores 0.667. In plain terms, outcomes the model rated 70% likely happened about 70% of the time. Live scoring begins 2026-06-11. See the scoreboard →

Analysis

The model rates Mexico as clear favourites at 59.5%, with South Africa at 13.4% and the draw at 27.2%. The Elo gap is substantial at 336 points in Mexico's favour, reflecting a clear strength differential in recent form. In Group A, Mexico are expected to advance (96.0%) while South Africa face a tighter path (22.9%) — this result could be decisive for South Africa's campaign.

Tactical matchup

Mexico (high press) meet South Africa (balanced) — contrasting tactical identities that should shape the contest. Mexico press significantly higher (PPDA 16.1) — their ability to force turnovers in advanced positions will be a key tactical dynamic.

Key battlegrounds

Mexico must sustain their pressing intensity to force turnovers in advanced positions. The individual battle features Raúl Jiménez (P(scores) 9.3%) against Evidence Makgopa (3.0%) — their impact could prove decisive.

Situational factors

South Africa face a 14,106km journey to the venue versus Mexico's 14km — acclimatisation and fatigue could factor into the second half. South Africa's Hugo Broos (5.4 years in post) brings significantly more tenure than Javier Aguirre (2.4 years) — squad cohesion and tactical familiarity may differ accordingly.

Match storyline

At 13.4%, a South Africa result would qualify as a genuine upset — the kind of group-stage surprise every World Cup produces.

Key numbers

59.5% / 27.2% / 13.4%H / D / ACalibrated ensemble probability
+336Elo differentialMexico 1860 vs South Africa 1524
1.26 – 0.71Expected goals (H – A)Dixon-Coles per-team rates
1-0 (16.9%)Modal scorelineMost likely exact full-time result
37.1%Both teams scoreP(both sides find the net)
9.3%P(goal) — Raúl JiménezHighest anytime-scorer probability in fixture

Latest news & match context

Team news
Match conditions
Stage:
Group A · Matchday 1
Availability

Mexico

Mexico: 2 carrying a fitness doubt.

  • DoubtCésar Montes, a projected starter at defender, is recovering from Leg injury and is a fitness watch item; if unavailable the projected XI shifts.
  • DoubtJulián Araujo (defender) is carrying Hamstring injury — a depth-level fitness watch item.

South Africa

South Africa come in at close to full strength.

What it means

Mexico faces defensive uncertainty with key defender César Montes doubtful due to a leg injury.

Fellow defender Julián Araujo is also a doubt with a hamstring issue.

South Africa, by contrast, reports a fully fit squad.

Availability from the predicted squads and injury feed; forecast adjustments from the model's own decomposition. See /docs/methodology/.

VoorafmodelBevroren voor aftrap

Pre-match forecast

Mexico win
59.5%
Draw
27.2%
South Africa win
13.4%
Mexico
1.26
expected
goals
South Africa
0.71

De gepubliceerde kans voor deze wedstrijd staat vast bij de opstellingsbevestiging (≈1 uur voor de aftrap) en wordt daarna niet meer bijgewerkt. Dat is het getal waarop de terugblik na afloop afrekent. De live-winkans in de Live-sectie is een aparte, vertraagde, beschrijvende schatting; die vervangt de gepubliceerde voorspelling niet.

Most likely scorelines

  • 1–0
    16.9%
  • 0–0
    14.5%
  • 1–1
    13.1%
  • 2–0
    11.0%
  • 0–1
    9.4%

From the Dixon-Coles joint Poisson with the low-score correction. Scorelines are listed in probability order; this is a description of the model's distribution, not a recommendation.

LiveBeschrijvende statistieken en de vertraagde live-winkans · ververst elke ~30 seconden

Live descriptive stats

Descriptive stats — accumulated xG, shots, shots on target, possession share, corners, fouls, cards — appear here from first whistle. Stats describe the match as played; they don't change the pre-match probability shown above.

Descriptive only — the pre-match probability tile above does not change during the match.

Live commentary & events· awaiting kick-off

Goals, cards, substitutions, and VAR reviews appear here as they happen, alongside a short auto-generated commentary line for each. The feed updates within roughly a minute of each event being recorded by API-Football.

Zo werkt de live-kans. De gepubliceerde voorspelling vooraf wordt bevroren bij de opstellingslock (T-1h) en verandert na de aftrap niet meer; de terugblik na afloop toetst dat bevroren getal aan de uitslag. De live-winkans die tijdens het spel wordt getoond is hetzelfde model, opnieuw uitgelezen op basis van de stand en de resterende tijd. Die ververst ongeveer één keer per minuut, loopt altijd vertraagd en is een beschrijvend onderzoekscijfer, geen gokproduct en geen prijs van welke aard dan ook. Zie /docs/methodology/ voor het volledige kader.