2026 World Cup: South Africa were soulless against Mexico, says Jerome Boateng

Former Germany international Jérôme Boateng has delivered a blunt critique of South Africa’s performance following their 2-0 loss to Mexico in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the Estadio Azteca on Thursday night.

The Group A clash saw the hosts take control after a cautious start from Bafana Bafana, before ultimately securing a comfortable victory through goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez, who struck in each half to underline Mexico’s dominance.

South Africa struggled to settle into any rhythm, repeatedly undone by Mexico’s aggressive pressing and sharp movement in the final third.

Defensive uncertainty and a series of misplaced passes left them under constant pressure, with limited attacking threat offered in response.

Speaking on beIN Sports after the final whistle, Boateng questioned both the tactical setup and the team’s intensity, offering a stinging assessment of the display.

“I have African roots, and I was very disappointed by the performance of South Africa today. We didn’t see a soul or a performance that honours the African continent," he said.

The former Bayern Munich and Manchester City defender went further, directing criticism at the coaching approach.

"Today, we only saw so many naive mistakes. The blame should go to the coach for being very defensive with the terrible lineup. We have the right to be angry with him," Boateng added.

The defeat leaves South Africa under early pressure in Group A, with their qualification hopes now hanging on their upcoming fixture against the Czech Republic.