2026 World Cup: Aguirre Says Mexico Players Were Overcome by Nerves and Cramping

Mexico secured a long-awaited opening victory at the World Cup, defeating South Africa 2-0 at Estadio Azteca and taking an important first step toward the knockout stage from Group A. The result ended a poor run in tournament openers, as Mexico had failed to win any of its previous seven World Cup first matches, recording five defeats and two draws. Despite the comfortable scoreline, coach Javier Aguirre said his team had to overcome early nerves and the pressure that comes with hosting the tournament opener.

Aguirre said it was natural for players to feel tense at the start of the World Cup, especially in front of a home crowd and in a high-stakes setting. He explained that three players suffered cramps during the match, which he linked to the opening-day tension, and admitted the team looked overwhelmed at moments when they first saw the stadium. Even so, he stressed that Mexico controlled the match for long stretches and could easily have scored more goals. In his view, a 4-0 result would not have been unrealistic, and the final 2-0 margin did not fully reflect Mexico’s dominance.

The closing minutes brought some boos from frustrated supporters, but Aguirre said he did not hear them clearly. He accepted that fans had every right to express disappointment, while also arguing that the team’s performance should be judged by the result. He insisted that the most important thing was collecting three points, not the size of the victory. Aguirre also said any criticism should motivate Mexico’s players to avoid a repeat of that reaction in future matches.

Mexico now turns its attention to upcoming Group A matches against South Korea and the Czech Republic. Aguirre dismissed any talk of prioritizing first place in the group, saying his squad is not focused on standings or long-term scenarios at this stage. Instead, he emphasized a step-by-step approach, with all attention on the next opponent. For him, the immediate goal is simple: prepare properly for South Korea and continue building momentum.

South Africa coach Hugo Broos, meanwhile, did not dispute the first red card shown to Sifiso Sithelo after the break, but he strongly questioned the late dismissal of substitute Themba Zwane. Broos argued that the Mexican player had obstructed his man, and he felt the referee got the decision wrong. He said it was unfortunate that his team had to finish the match with nine players.

Broos nevertheless praised his side’s overall effort, saying South Africa played well at times and caused Mexico problems by making it difficult for them to find space. Still, he admitted his team must improve, especially in possession, if it hopes to do better in its next outing.