How to watch Mexico v South Africa, team news, predicted line-ups and more | OneFootball

Hosts Mexico kick off the World Cup when they take on South Africa in the opening game of the tournament on Thursday.

South Africa hosted the tournament in 2010 and this is their first appearance at the World Cup since then.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the game.

Kick-off time

8pm UK time, Thursday 11 June

How to watch in the UK

ITV1/STV

Streaming on ITVX

Predicted line-ups

Mexico XI (4-3-3): Ochoa; Sanchez, Montes, Alvarez, Gallardo; Gutierrez, Fidalgo, Pineda; Alvarado, Jimenez, Quinones

South Africa XI (4-3-3): Williams; Mudau, Mbokazi, Okon, Modiba; Mbatha, Sithole, Mokoena; Appollis, Foster, Moremi

Recent form

Mexico are in excellent form and have not lost a game since November last year. They are unbeaten in their last eight games which includes draws with Portugal and Belgium and a 2-0 win over Ghana.

South Africa on the other hand are in poor form and have not won a game since last December. Their manager Hugo Broos is hugely experienced at 74 but South Africa have not appeared on this stage in 16 years and have a lack of top players in the squad. Burnley striker Lyle Foster is their standout player but has only scored three league goals this season.

What’s been said?

Mexico manager Javier Aguirre: “In 50 years of football, I haven’t had a better feeling than a World Cup at home, and I’ve experienced them all; this is something unforgettable. Starting tomorrow, this group will know what it means.

“I think the message has resonated, I think I’ve convinced them, and they themselves have used the word ‘family’ naturally; they feel comfortable with it. It’s a very strong word, something very powerful. They have grown as a family on their own, they internalised it, and now they express it openly.”

South Africa manager Hugo Broos: “We know what to do against Mexico. We know what to do when they have the ball and when we have possession. The final details will be worked on in our next two training sessions. Everything is focused on this game.

“They are all dangerous, they are a very good team with much movement and solidarity. You can see they really want to be world champions.”