With less than 48 hours to go before South Africa kicks off their historic 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, head coach Hugo Broos has received a massive tactical lifeline. Versatile defensive anchor Aubrey Modiba has won his race against time and is expected to return to full team training on Tuesday.
Modiba has been nursing a stubborn hamstring injury sustained during the final stretch of the domestic season, which completely sidelined him for Bafana Bafana’s recent warm-up friendlies against Nicaragua and Jamaica.
“I think things are going well with Aubrey and we’ll give him special treatment, so I think from Tuesday he will train with the group,” confirmed Hugo Broos. “If nothing happens in the next few days, Aubrey should be available for the game on Thursday.”
The Pachuca Plan: Defeating Altitude Before Facing El Tri
The tactical return of Modiba could not come at a better time as South Africa prepares to walk into a cauldron against tournament co-hosts Mexico at the iconic Estadio Azteca on Thursday, 11 June.
Broos expressed immense satisfaction with how his team has acclimatized at their high-altitude preparation base camp in Pachuca, a deliberate strategic choice made shortly after the December draw. Training at the University of Football complex has allowed Bafana Bafana to condition themselves to the grueling 2,000-meter altitude they will face in Mexico City.
“Once we knew the draw and realized we had to play our opening game against Mexico, I immediately knew we needed a place where we could prepare in relation to the high altitude,” Broos explained. “If we have good results in the World Cup, it’s certainly because we have had magnificent preparation here in Pachuca.”
Following their blockbuster Group A opener against Mexico, South Africa will fly out to the United States to clash with the Czech Republic before heading back down to face South Korea.
Bafana Bafana’s Group A World Cup Schedule
- Thursday, 11 June: Mexico vs. South Africa – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City (21:00 SA Time)
- Thursday, 18 June: Czech Republic vs. South Africa – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta (18:00 SA Time)
- Thursday, 25 June: South Africa vs. South Korea – Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe (03:00 SA Time)
