Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has explained why he is pleased with the team’s training base in Mexico for their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.
Broos’ troops have been drawn into Group A for the 2026 World Cup, where they will face co-hosts Mexico and South Korea. The final spot in the group remains open, to be filled by the winner of a high-stakes UEFA play-off path featuring Denmark, the Czech Republic, North Macedonia, and the Republic of Ireland.
Bafana Bafana will kick off their 2026 World Cup campaign at the iconic Estadio Azteca on 11 June, facing co-hosts Mexico in a poignant echo of their 2010 opening match on home soil.
SAFA has since revealed that Bafana Bafana will be based in Pachuca, Mexico and will train at the Universidad del Futbol. They will stay at the Camino Real Pachuca hotel, a few kilometres from Pachuca.
HUGO BROOS PLEASED AFTER VISITING THE PACHUCA BASE IN MEXICO
Broos has expressed his satisfaction with the Bafana base and said it suits all the requirements for their World Cup preparations.
“I’m very pleased with the facilities and the two nice pitches where we can train. The fitness rooms, the hospital and everything we need to have a good preparation for that match,” said Broos on Thursday.
“Once the composition of the group was known, I knew that the game against Mexico should be a special match for us.”
BAFANA BAFANA COACH EXPLAINS THE CHOICE OF THEIR TRAINING CAMP IN MEXICO
“Not because it’s Mexico, but because we had to play that game at high altitude. I was also here in the 1986 World Cup with Belgium as a player,” he added. “So I knew, based on experience, that before we could play that game against Mexico, we needed a high altitude camp.
“I also met the people from Pachuca in Washington, and they proposed the location here, and I said to them, ‘We will see in the next few weeks what we are going to do and what the best options are.’
“So there were a few other options, but one thing that was important to me was that we should already be in Mexico and start the high altitude camp, and not have a trip again.”
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