Kaizer Chiefs marketing director Jessica Motaung has delivered a message to Bafana Bafana as the national team gears up for their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Mexico on Thursday night.
South Africa kicks off the global showpiece in Mexico City on June 11—exactly 16 years after Siphiwe Tshabalala’s iconic opening-match strike united the country in 2010.
While that historic day at the FNB Stadium ended in a 1-1 stalemate against the Mexicans, the current generation faces a tougher assignment. Without the comfort of home soil, Hugo Broos’ side arrives in Mexico as decided underdogs.
The road to this tournament has been fraught with challenges. A goalless draw against Nicaragua at the Orlando Amstel Arena on May 29 was followed by a behind-closed-doors 1-1 stalemate with Jamaica in Pachuca this past Saturday—a performance that left Broos visibly frustrated despite Lyle Foster finding the back of the net.
CHIEFS’ RESURGENCE REFLECTED IN NATIONAL SQUAD AS MOTAUNG BACKS BAFANA
Chiefs’ own resurgence in the just-ended season, which saw the club secure a third-place finish and a return to CAF Confederation Cup football, was reflected in the national team selection. The club saw Bradley Cross, Thabiso Monyane, Lebohang Maboe, and Brandon Petersen feature in the preliminary squad.
Ultimately, it was Cross who secured a ticket to the tournament, marking a remarkable rise that included his Bafana debut against Nicaragua last month.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 2026 Toyota Cup launch at the Kaizer Chiefs Village on Tuesday, Motaung emphasised that the national interest must take precedence as Mzansi rallies to support the squad on the global stage.
“From a Kaizer Chiefs point of view, we are very excited to be watching Bafana Bafana in their first game in the World Cup,” Motaung said. “I just want to say, they have the support from the entire Amakhosi nation—but South Africa first, please.”
As Bafana Bafana look to navigate the expanded 48-team tournament and strive to advance past the group stages for the first time in history, Motaung’s plea serves as a definitive message: when the whistle blows on Thursday, the goal is national unity above all else.
The much-anticipated clash kicks off at 21:00 at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
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