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.
South Africa has been drawn in Group A alongside co-hosts Mexico, South Korea and a yet to be determined nation. The opponent will come from the winner of the UEFA play-offs involving Denmark, the Czech Republic and Macedonia.
Their first match will be against Mexico on 11 June 2026 at the Estadio Azteca in Coyoacán, Mexico.
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, which is a few kilometres away from Pachuca.
HUGO BROOS PLEASED AFTER VISITING THE PACHUCA BASE IN MEXICO
Broos has expressed his satisfaction with the 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.
“Once the composition of the group was known, I knew that the game against Mexico should be a special match for us,” he added.
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 said.
“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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