A look at the World Cup opener: Mexico vs South Africa
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World cup match opener MEXICO VS SOUTH AFRICA/SCREENGRAB
As the world awaits the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup between Mexico and South Africa, an unusual debate has emerged online, with some Africans openly backing the hosts instead of the continent's representatives.
On posts, videos and photos shared across social media platforms, football fans from several African countries have been sharing memes, polls and commentary explaining why they are supporting Mexico or choosing to remain neutral ahead of the clash at Estadio Azteca on Thursday night.
Much of the discussion has centred on South Africa's relationship with African migrants, with some users citing past incidents of xenophobic violence and anti-foreigner sentiment as reasons for withholding support.
In a video shared on TikTok, content creator Kevin Kariba said a call by a South African content creator for Africans to unite behind South Africa had instead triggered widespread reactions online.
Kariba said some social media users had even adopted Mexican names on their profiles and added Mexican flags to their bios as a humorous way of expressing support for Mexico during the match.
One X user, identified as John Marufu, wrote that many Africans were backing Mexico because South Africa's "xenophobic reputation" had left a bitter taste across parts of the continent.
Another user, posting under the name Urban Heritage, shared a widely circulated joke saying, "We can't support South Africans, we don't want to take their jobs."
X user Clone said some of the humour being shared online was linked to frustrations over the treatment of African migrants in South Africa.
User Bruce also posted that he would be supporting Mexico, while another user, identified as Biason92, urged Nigerians to back the North American side.
Others questioned why some Africans appeared willing to support a country from another continent rather than an African team.
"It's quite revealing that Africans are opting to support a country on a completely different continent rather than an African one, isn't it?" wrote X user Osagie Alonge.
The Rural Guy, a South African social media user, also weighed into the debate, claiming that some South Africans had noticed the growing support for Mexico among Africans online.
However, not everyone agreed with the sentiment.
A user identified as Sheabia said Africans should continue backing South Africa despite concerns raised by some online users.
"We are Africans and we support South Africa," the user wrote, while adding that xenophobic individuals should not define the entire country.
The online debate comes days even after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed concerns surrounding immigration and the enforcement of immigration laws.
Speaking on June 7, 2026, Ramaphosa said the responsibility for enforcing immigration laws rests solely with the state.
"The responsibility for enforcing immigration laws rests with the state and the state alone," Ramaphosa said.
"There have been weaknesses in the way migration has been managed in our country. We must make it clear that only authorised government officials may act against violations of the law, including violations of our immigration laws."
The President said no individual was allowed to confront people in public spaces and demand identification documents, adding that authorities would act against those exploiting concerns about illegal immigration for political, personal or criminal purposes.
Despite the remarks, discussion around migration and relations between South Africa and other African countries continued to dominate social media conversations ahead of the World Cup opener.
Videos, memes and opinion posts continued to circulate online throughout the day, with many users revisiting debates around African unity, migration and support for the South African team.
