Mexico and South Africa are about to play the opening match of the World Cup for the second time in history. 16 years apart. Exact same calendar date. Completely reversed host roles. In 2010, Mexico pulled up to Johannesburg to spoil South Africa's party. In 2026, South Africa is pulling up to the Estadio Azteca to return the favor. This is officially the most unique, historic opener we’ve ever seen. Football always finds a way to repeat itself.
Unpopular opinion: World Cup qualifiers should be scrapped. If we really want the best at the World Cup, just take the highest‑ranked nations and let them fight it out. Simple. Efficient. No more passengers.
When he secured his historic, shock victory at the 1976 French Open (Open de France) at Le Touquet, he did it entirely self-reliantly. In an era where European Tour players universally relied on caddies, Tshabalala famously pulled his own golf bag/cart across all four rounds. He shot a masterful 16-under-par to win by two strokes, becoming the first Black man to win a European Tour event.
People romanticize the 2010 squad but the reality is that it failed to qualify for AFCON and struggled to deliver consistent results.
South Africa's current team is far superior in quality, depth and competitiveness.
I still cannot believe Portugal hired Roberto Martínez to lead them to World Cup glory after he single-handedly wasted Belgium’s entire golden generation. You had prime Hazard, De Bruyne, and Lukaku for a decade and won absolutely nothing. How this man keeps scamming his way into elite international squads is a scientific mystery. Portugal is carrying way too much talent to be held back by him
You're delusional if you actually believe this. If you honestly think a Narco-State like Mexico would accurately report it's crime statistics, when politicians are literally backed by drug cartels, then I have an ocean in J'oburg to sell you.