Opening Day of the 2026 World Cup is Thursday, and four teams in Group A are ready to kick off the tournament. Below, I explain why Mexico will be too much for South Africa to overcome. Then, I highlight the betting angles for South Korea versus Czechia. Here are the best 2026 World Cup picks for Thursday, June 11th’s game Mexico vs. South Africa.
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Thursday’s Best 2026 World Cup Picks: Mexico vs. South Africa
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Mexico vs. South Africa
The first game of the 2026 World Cup is going to be a blowout. There's no doubt in my mind. Mexico won the CONCACAF Gold Cup last summer, allowing goals in just two of its six games. Meanwhile, the offense scored at least twice four times.
Mexico has continued this style of play in the friendlies they've played in the lead-up to the World Cup. They defeated Serbia 5-1 on June 4th, and they've shut out seven of their last 10 opponents. Mexico is 6-0-2 in its last eight matches, tying both Belgium and Portugal in March.
Given how good Mexico’s defense has been, I struggle to see how South Africa will score. Yes, this is a team that has scored in five of its last six games, but it hasn't faced a side like Mexico in a very long time.
The last time South Africa took the field, they defeated Jamaica 1-0. In their game before that, they tied Nicaragua 0-0.
South Africa enters the World Cup 1-2-2 in its last five matches. The South Africans have failed to score more than one goal in a single match in all of 2026, despite playing just one World Cup qualifying team during that stretch.
Then there is the fact that Mexico is playing a home game in Estadio Banorte to open the World Cup. The atmosphere is going to be electric, and Mexico is a quality unit that can build off that energy.
Picks: Mexico -1.5 (+124) & South Africa to Score No Goals (-165)