Bafana Bafana have taken a calculated step in their build-up to the 2026 Fifa World Cup by selecting Universidad del Futbol in Pachuca, Mexico, as their tournament base.
The decision ties directly to the team’s focus on sharpening preparation conditions ahead of football’s biggest stage, with the academy closely linked to local side CF Pachuca.
Situated roughly 90km north of Mexico City, Pachuca sits at an altitude of 2 432m, well above Johannesburg’s 1 753m, offering an ideal setting for high-altitude conditioning. The demanding environment is expected to help players adapt physically as they prepare for the pressures of World Cup football.
South Africa will open their campaign against co-hosts Mexico at the iconic Azteca Stadium on 11 June, before travelling to Atlanta to face a European qualifier. Their Group A schedule concludes with a clash against South Korea in Guadalupe, within the Monterrey metropolitan area. The expansive Pachuca University training campus will serve as the team’s preparation hub between these key fixtures.
Off the pitch, the squad will be based at the five-star Camino Real Pachuca, set among gardens and forestland about five kilometres from the training facilities, providing a calm space for recovery. Pachuca’s milder climate, averaging around 22°C in June, also offers relief from the intense summer heat experienced in many North American host cities.
The base further connects Bafana to the rich football heritage of CF Pachuca, Mexico’s oldest club, founded in 1892, adding an extra layer of inspiration to their stay. The 2026 tournament marks South Africa’s first World Cup appearance since 2010, following earlier group-stage exits in 1998, 2002 and on home soil, as they look to finally make a lasting impression on the global stage.
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