World Cup 2026: Jerome Boateng slams 'naive' South Africa after disappointing loss to Mexico

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

Bafana Bafana endured a difficult start to their campaign as Mexico capitalised on defensive lapses to secure a comfortable victory. Goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez, scored in each half, ensured the hosts collected all three points in front of an energetic home crowd.

South Africa struggled to impose themselves on the contest, with Mexico dictating the tempo from the opening exchanges.

Despite moments of possession, the African side failed to create clear-cut chances and were repeatedly exposed at the back.

Speaking on beIN Sports after the match, Boateng, who won major honours with Bayern Munich and Manchester City, expressed deep disappointment with what he described as a lack of intensity and structure from the South Africans.

“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 defender also questioned tactical decisions, suggesting that South Africa’s approach was overly cautious against a high-tempo Mexican side.

"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 result leaves South Africa under immediate pressure in Group A, with their next fixture against the Czech Republic now shaping up as a crucial encounter.