The full cost for Bafana Bafana fans travelling to Mexico revealed

Bafana Bafana fans have waited 16 years for this moment to see our local talent on the global stage. On 11 June 2026, South Africa kick off their 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament against hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. catcross.org

The entire world is sure to tune in. This game will be the opening fixture of the tournament, the first World Cup featuring 48 nations. It will also be a rematch of the 2010 opener when South Africa and Mexico drew 1-1 in Johannesburg.

Also read: Top 5: Bafana Bafana’s most-capped players of all time

Now the stage shifts to Mexico, with nearly 90,000 home supporters expected inside one of football’s most iconic stadiums.

For travelling supporters back home, the experience could be unforgettable, but it will not come cheap.

BAFANA BAFANA FANS NEED A MINIMUM OF R38 000

The airplane flights make up the biggest expense. There are currently no direct routes from South Africa to Mexico City. Supporters will need at least one stopover, usually through cities such as Atlanta, Dallas, London or São Paulo.

Return flights from Johannesburg are expected to cost between R20,000 and R28,000, while departures from Cape Town could be slightly higher because most routes connect through OR Tambo first.

Accommodation is one area where Mexico offers some relief compared to United States host cities.

Hotels around the Estadio Azteca area are still considerably cheaper than venues in places like New York or Los Angeles. Budget travellers can expect to spend around R5,500 to R9,000 for five nights, while more comfortable stays move towards R13,000.

The match ticket itself could decide whether the trip stays realistic or becomes a dream.

Official FIFA tickets for the opening match started from roughly R6,700, but resale prices have already climbed sharply and in some cases stretch beyond R70,000.

Daily spending in Mexico City remains manageable. Food, transport and sightseeing for five days could come in at roughly R2,000 to R4,500.

When everything is added together, the projected budget for one supporter travelling from South Africa for the Mexico game sits at approximately R38,000, while a more comfortable trip moves beyond R67,000.

Also read: Top 5 Bafana Bafana goal-scorers of all time

FOLLOWING THE FULL GROUP STAGE COULD COST OVER R80 000

Some supporters may already be dreaming bigger.

Bafana Bafana’s group stage continues against the Czech Republic in Atlanta on 18 June before returning to Mexico to face South Korea in Monterrey six days later.

Following all three matches turns the trip into a near three-week football adventure across two countries.

The added flights between Mexico City, Atlanta and Monterrey, plus hotels and tickets, increase the costs dramatically.

Budget travellers who secure face-value tickets could still complete the full journey for around R80,000 per person.

However, supporters relying on resale tickets and mid-range accommodation may need closer to R140,000.

There is another complication too. South African passport holders travelling to Atlanta would require a United States tourist visa in addition to their Mexico arrangements.

For many fans, the Mexico opener alone may already be enough.

Sixteen years after Siphiwe Tshabalala’s goal lit up Soccer City, Bafana Bafana return to the World Cup on the same date, against the same opponents, in another historic opening match.

For supporters willing to make the trip, it could become the football memory of a lifetime.

All prices sourced from Skyscanner, Google Flights, Expedia, Gametime, TickPick, SeatGeek, FIFA.com, Wego Travel Blog, and Matador Network. Current as of May 2026. Prices are subject to change and World Cup demand surges.

La dernière journée de Saudi Pro League 2025-2026 s’annonce décisive. Al Nassr et Al Hilal se disputent le titre à distance, avec seulement deux points d’écart avant le coup d’envoi. Al Nassr reçoit Damac au Alawwal Park, Riyad, au même moment, Al Hilal se rend au King Salman Sport City Stadium d’Al-Majma’ah pour défier Al Feiha. Les deux matchs se jouent à partir de 18H00 GMT. Al Nassr à un pas d’un titre historique Al Nassr aborde cette dernière journée en leader, avec la main sur le championnat. Une victoire contre Damac suffirait pour décrocher le titre et offrir à Cristiano Ronaldo son premier trophée en Arabie Saoudite. Ce sacre serait aussi le premier pour le club depuis 2019. Al Hilal garde l’espoir de l’invincibilité Al Hilal reste le seul club invaincu cette saison et peut encore coiffer Al Nassr sur le fil. Le nul arraché 1-1 sur le terrain du leader à la 90e+8 grâce à un csc de Bento a relancé la course au titre. Les coéquipiers de Karim Benzema ont confirmé samedi en battant Neom SC 2-0 à domicile. Deux scénarios pour une fin de saison irrespirable Al Hilal doit s’imposer sur la pelouse d’Al Fayha et espérer qu’Al Nassr ne l’emporte pas contre Damac, qui joue son maintien. Si Al Nassr gagne, le titre lui revient. En cas de faux pas, Al Hilal pourrait conclure une saison sans défaite par un sacre inattendu.

L’article Saudi Pro League : Duel à distance pour le titre entre Al Nassr et Al Hilal ce soir en Saudi Pro League est apparu en premier sur AfricaFootUnited.

Springbok legend Victor Matfield has backed towering Northampton Saints lock JJ van der Mescht to emerge as Rassie Erasmus’ “big surprise package” of 2026.

The powerful second-rower has made significant strides since leaving Stade Français for the English Premiership last year. Van der Mescht found consistent game time difficult to come by during four seasons in Paris, but his move to Saints has produced a sharp turnaround in fortunes.

The 145kg lock earned an invitation to Erasmus’ virtual alignment camp earlier this year ahead of the Nations Championship, and Matfield believes the former Sharks enforcer is well placed to push into genuine Springbok contention.

“JJ van der Mescht from Northampton, 145kg, has got a call-up,” Matfield said on the Rivals podcast. “I saw him play as a youngster and at schoolboy level he was unbelievable. He’s big, but he’s fast and he’s got great skills. If you think of a guy like RG Snyman being out for the year, someone like him can maybe come in and play off the bench.”

Matfield also pointed to what Van der Mescht brings that sets him apart from the existing Springbok lock options.

“He won’t be used a lot in the lineout, but he’ll be the guy carrying hard in midfield,” he said. “He’s got great skills; offloading, getting through tackles. I think he might just be the big surprise Rassie brings in this year.”

SPRINGBOK FIXTURES IN 2026

Nations Championship (Home)

4 July: South Africa vs England (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)
11 July: South Africa vs Scotland (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
18 July: South Africa vs Wales (Kings Park, Durban)

“Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry” vs All Blacks

22 Aug: 1st Test: South Africa vs New Zealand (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)
29 Aug: 2nd Test: South Africa vs New Zealand (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)
5 Sept: 3rd Test: South Africa vs New Zealand (FNB Stadium, Johannesburg)
12 Sept: 4th Test: South Africa vs New Zealand (M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, USA)

Nations Championship (Away)

7 Nov: Italy vs South Africa (Venue TBC)
13 Nov: France vs South Africa (Stade de France, Paris)
21 Nov: Ireland vs South Africa (Aviva Stadium, Dublin)

Additional Once-Off 2026 Fixtures:

20 June: Warm-up: Springboks vs Barbarians (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium)
8 Aug: Test Match: Argentina vs Springboks (Estadio Jose Amalfitani, Buenos Aires)
27 Sept: Test Match: Wallabies vs Springboks (Optus Stadium, Perth)

En Afrique du Sud, le maire de Johannesburg, Dada Morero, a prononcé mercredi 20 mai son discours annuel sur l’état de la ville. Ce discours était très attendu, alors que la capitale économique connait de nombreuses crises, des finances, de l’eau ou encore des services publics. Et alors que pour beaucoup d’habitants, la ville s'effondre, le maire a profité de son discours pour pointer les améliorations. Les élections municipales ont lieu dans un peu moins de six mois et l'ANC, le parti au pouvoir, qui perd en influence, tente de reconvertir le coeur des électeurs.

L’entraîneur Claude Puel a pris le chemin de la capitaine avec un groupe de 23 joueurs. Les Aiglons ont rendez-vous demain soir (19h GMT) au Stade de France pour la finale de la Coupe de France contre Lens avant de disputer les barrages contre l’ASSE. L’OGC Nice s’envole, ce jeudi, pour Paris en vue de la 108e édition de la finale de la Coupe de France qui aura lieu demain soir (19h GMT) au Stade de France face au RC Lens. Pour affrontrer le club lensois, 2e de Ligue 1, le coach du club azuréen, Claude Puel emmène 23 joueurs et a laissé dans le Sud, Salis Abdul Samed et de Tanguy Ndombélé, non retenus et qui ont peu joués cette saison en Ligue 1. Le groupe niçois : Diouf, Dupé, Zelazowski – Abdi, Bah, Bard, Clauss, Dante, Mendy, Ndayishimiye, Oppong – Boudaoui, Coulibaly, Louchet, Sanson, Vanhoutte – Boudache, Cho, Diop, Gouveia, Jansson, Kevin Carlos, Wahi.

L’article Coupe de France – le groupe de Nice pour la finale contre Lens est apparu en premier sur AfricaFootUnited.