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Deadspin | Josh Naylor, Cal Raleigh rally Mariners to walk-off win over A’s  Apr 22, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor (12) celebrates with teammates, including second baseman Cole Young (2, right) after hitting a walk-off RBI-single against the Athletics during the ninth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images   Josh Naylor singled home Cal Raleigh with two outs in the bottom of the ninth as the host Seattle Mariners defeated the Athletics 5-4 Wednesday afternoon to salvage the finale of a three-game series with their American League West rivals.  The A’s tied the score in the top of the inning on Nick Kurtz’s one-out homer to straightaway center off Mariners closer Andres Munoz (3-2), who blew the save opportunity but ended up getting the victory.  Raleigh, who homered for a third consecutive game, sparked the winning rally with a two-out single to center. He advanced to second as Julio Rodriguez grounded a single into left and scored on Naylor’s liner to left off Joel Kuhnel (0-1).  Raleigh and Naylor each went 3-for-5 as the Mariners collected a season-high 14 hits. Seattle starter Logan Gilbert allowed six hits and three runs over four innings while Athletics starter Aaron Civale also gave up six hits and three runs while going 5 1/3 innings.  The A’s took a 2-0 lead in the first inning thanks, in part, to a unique hit by Carlos Cortes. Kurtz drew a leadoff walk and Shea Langeliers singled to right field, sending Kurtz to third. Cortes rifled a 107.8-mph liner up the middle that hit Gilbert in the midsection and lodged inside his jersey. After the umpires huddled, they ruled it a hit that loaded the bases.  After trainer Kyle Torgerson checked out Gilbert and gave him the green light to stay in the game, Tyler Soderstrom’s sacrifice fly to center drove in Kurtz and Jeff McNeil’s two-out single to center brought home Langeliers.   The Mariners got a run back in the bottom of the first as J.P. Crawford, Rodriguez and Naylor loaded the bases with singles to set up Randy Arozarena’s sacrifice fly to left.  Cortes reached on an infield single leading off the third and scored on Jacob Wilson’s one-out double to left to make it 3-1.  Raleigh led off the bottom of the frame with a homer to right off A’s starter Aaron Civale.  The Mariners made it 3-3 in the sixth after Naylor led off with a single to center. one out later, the A’s brought in Brady Basso to replace Civale. Pinch-hitter Mitch Garver greeted Basso with a RBI double to center.  Seattle took the lead off Mark Leiter Jr. in the seventh. Crawford grounded a one-out single into right and advanced as Raleigh’s sinking liner got past right fielder Cortes for a double. Crawford scored as Rodriguez grounded out to short.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Josh #Naylor #Cal #Raleigh #rally #Mariners #walkoff #win

Deadspin | Josh Naylor, Cal Raleigh rally Mariners to walk-off win over A’s
Deadspin | Josh Naylor, Cal Raleigh rally Mariners to walk-off win over A’s  Apr 22, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor (12) celebrates with teammates, including second baseman Cole Young (2, right) after hitting a walk-off RBI-single against the Athletics during the ninth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images   Josh Naylor singled home Cal Raleigh with two outs in the bottom of the ninth as the host Seattle Mariners defeated the Athletics 5-4 Wednesday afternoon to salvage the finale of a three-game series with their American League West rivals.  The A’s tied the score in the top of the inning on Nick Kurtz’s one-out homer to straightaway center off Mariners closer Andres Munoz (3-2), who blew the save opportunity but ended up getting the victory.  Raleigh, who homered for a third consecutive game, sparked the winning rally with a two-out single to center. He advanced to second as Julio Rodriguez grounded a single into left and scored on Naylor’s liner to left off Joel Kuhnel (0-1).  Raleigh and Naylor each went 3-for-5 as the Mariners collected a season-high 14 hits. Seattle starter Logan Gilbert allowed six hits and three runs over four innings while Athletics starter Aaron Civale also gave up six hits and three runs while going 5 1/3 innings.  The A’s took a 2-0 lead in the first inning thanks, in part, to a unique hit by Carlos Cortes. Kurtz drew a leadoff walk and Shea Langeliers singled to right field, sending Kurtz to third. Cortes rifled a 107.8-mph liner up the middle that hit Gilbert in the midsection and lodged inside his jersey. After the umpires huddled, they ruled it a hit that loaded the bases.  After trainer Kyle Torgerson checked out Gilbert and gave him the green light to stay in the game, Tyler Soderstrom’s sacrifice fly to center drove in Kurtz and Jeff McNeil’s two-out single to center brought home Langeliers.   The Mariners got a run back in the bottom of the first as J.P. Crawford, Rodriguez and Naylor loaded the bases with singles to set up Randy Arozarena’s sacrifice fly to left.  Cortes reached on an infield single leading off the third and scored on Jacob Wilson’s one-out double to left to make it 3-1.  Raleigh led off the bottom of the frame with a homer to right off A’s starter Aaron Civale.  The Mariners made it 3-3 in the sixth after Naylor led off with a single to center. one out later, the A’s brought in Brady Basso to replace Civale. Pinch-hitter Mitch Garver greeted Basso with a RBI double to center.  Seattle took the lead off Mark Leiter Jr. in the seventh. Crawford grounded a one-out single into right and advanced as Raleigh’s sinking liner got past right fielder Cortes for a double. Crawford scored as Rodriguez grounded out to short.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Josh #Naylor #Cal #Raleigh #rally #Mariners #walkoff #winApr 22, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor (12) celebrates with teammates, including second baseman Cole Young (2, right) after hitting a walk-off RBI-single against the Athletics during the ninth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

Josh Naylor singled home Cal Raleigh with two outs in the bottom of the ninth as the host Seattle Mariners defeated the Athletics 5-4 Wednesday afternoon to salvage the finale of a three-game series with their American League West rivals.

The A’s tied the score in the top of the inning on Nick Kurtz’s one-out homer to straightaway center off Mariners closer Andres Munoz (3-2), who blew the save opportunity but ended up getting the victory.

Raleigh, who homered for a third consecutive game, sparked the winning rally with a two-out single to center. He advanced to second as Julio Rodriguez grounded a single into left and scored on Naylor’s liner to left off Joel Kuhnel (0-1).

Raleigh and Naylor each went 3-for-5 as the Mariners collected a season-high 14 hits. Seattle starter Logan Gilbert allowed six hits and three runs over four innings while Athletics starter Aaron Civale also gave up six hits and three runs while going 5 1/3 innings.

The A’s took a 2-0 lead in the first inning thanks, in part, to a unique hit by Carlos Cortes. Kurtz drew a leadoff walk and Shea Langeliers singled to right field, sending Kurtz to third. Cortes rifled a 107.8-mph liner up the middle that hit Gilbert in the midsection and lodged inside his jersey. After the umpires huddled, they ruled it a hit that loaded the bases.


After trainer Kyle Torgerson checked out Gilbert and gave him the green light to stay in the game, Tyler Soderstrom’s sacrifice fly to center drove in Kurtz and Jeff McNeil’s two-out single to center brought home Langeliers.

The Mariners got a run back in the bottom of the first as J.P. Crawford, Rodriguez and Naylor loaded the bases with singles to set up Randy Arozarena’s sacrifice fly to left.

Cortes reached on an infield single leading off the third and scored on Jacob Wilson’s one-out double to left to make it 3-1.

Raleigh led off the bottom of the frame with a homer to right off A’s starter Aaron Civale.

The Mariners made it 3-3 in the sixth after Naylor led off with a single to center. one out later, the A’s brought in Brady Basso to replace Civale. Pinch-hitter Mitch Garver greeted Basso with a RBI double to center.

Seattle took the lead off Mark Leiter Jr. in the seventh. Crawford grounded a one-out single into right and advanced as Raleigh’s sinking liner got past right fielder Cortes for a double. Crawford scored as Rodriguez grounded out to short.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Josh #Naylor #Cal #Raleigh #rally #Mariners #walkoff #win

Apr 22, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor (12) celebrates with teammates, including second baseman Cole Young (2, right) after hitting a walk-off RBI-single against the Athletics during the ninth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

Josh Naylor singled home Cal Raleigh with two outs in the bottom of the ninth as the host Seattle Mariners defeated the Athletics 5-4 Wednesday afternoon to salvage the finale of a three-game series with their American League West rivals.

The A’s tied the score in the top of the inning on Nick Kurtz’s one-out homer to straightaway center off Mariners closer Andres Munoz (3-2), who blew the save opportunity but ended up getting the victory.

Raleigh, who homered for a third consecutive game, sparked the winning rally with a two-out single to center. He advanced to second as Julio Rodriguez grounded a single into left and scored on Naylor’s liner to left off Joel Kuhnel (0-1).

Raleigh and Naylor each went 3-for-5 as the Mariners collected a season-high 14 hits. Seattle starter Logan Gilbert allowed six hits and three runs over four innings while Athletics starter Aaron Civale also gave up six hits and three runs while going 5 1/3 innings.

The A’s took a 2-0 lead in the first inning thanks, in part, to a unique hit by Carlos Cortes. Kurtz drew a leadoff walk and Shea Langeliers singled to right field, sending Kurtz to third. Cortes rifled a 107.8-mph liner up the middle that hit Gilbert in the midsection and lodged inside his jersey. After the umpires huddled, they ruled it a hit that loaded the bases.

After trainer Kyle Torgerson checked out Gilbert and gave him the green light to stay in the game, Tyler Soderstrom’s sacrifice fly to center drove in Kurtz and Jeff McNeil’s two-out single to center brought home Langeliers.

The Mariners got a run back in the bottom of the first as J.P. Crawford, Rodriguez and Naylor loaded the bases with singles to set up Randy Arozarena’s sacrifice fly to left.

Cortes reached on an infield single leading off the third and scored on Jacob Wilson’s one-out double to left to make it 3-1.

Raleigh led off the bottom of the frame with a homer to right off A’s starter Aaron Civale.

The Mariners made it 3-3 in the sixth after Naylor led off with a single to center. one out later, the A’s brought in Brady Basso to replace Civale. Pinch-hitter Mitch Garver greeted Basso with a RBI double to center.

Seattle took the lead off Mark Leiter Jr. in the seventh. Crawford grounded a one-out single into right and advanced as Raleigh’s sinking liner got past right fielder Cortes for a double. Crawford scored as Rodriguez grounded out to short.

–Field Level Media

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Deadspin | Knicks finish off Hawks with record-setting 51-point blowout  Apr 30, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) drives past Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) in the first quarter during game six of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images   OG Anunoby scored 26 of his 29 points in the first half to lead visiting New York to a historic 140-89 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday as the Knicks won their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series 4-2.  It was the most points scored by the Knicks in a playoff game and their largest winning margin in the postseason. The only bigger victory margin in club history came earlier this year, when New York routed the Brooklyn Nets 120-66 on Jan. 21.  The Hawks endured the second-worst postseason defeat in franchise history. The then-St. Louis Hawks lost 133-75 to the Minneapolis Lakers on March 19, 1956.  New York, who produced a 63-11 first-half run, led by as many as 61 and beat the Hawks for the third straight game to advance to the conference semifinals for the fourth straight year. The third-seeded Knicks next will face either the second-seeded Boston Celtics or the seventh-seeded Philadelphia 76ers.  Anunoby shot 11-for-14 from the field and added seven rebounds and four steals.  “I work hard on my game and the ball finds me,” Anunoby said.  New York’s Mikal Bridges scored 24 points, Jalen Brunson had 17 points and eight assists. Karl-Anthony Towns had his second career playoff triple-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, with three steals. The starters were out of the game midway in the third quarter.  “I thought we did a great job with our defense,” Towns said. “You know, I thought our offense was created by our defense (which) did a great job of causing turnovers, upping the pressure, and we executed offensively. It’s a great recipe for success.”   Sixth-seeded Atlanta was led by Jalen Johnson with 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists.  “I did not see it going down like this tonight,” said Atlanta’s CJ McCollum, who scored 11 points. “None of us did.”  The Knicks took control early and showed their dominance in the first quarter, taking a 40-15 lead into the second. New York shot 69.2% from the field (18-for-26) and was helped greatly by eight Atlanta turnovers. Anunoby scored 14 in the opening quarter.  The Knicks finished the first quarter on a 31-4 run, which became a 39-4 run as the lead continued to grow.  Tempers flared in the second quarter and resulted in New York’s Mitchell Robinson and Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels being ejected for a fracas with 4:39 left in the half.  While battling for position on a free throw, Daniels hit Robinson with a high elbow. Pushing ensued and official Brent Barnaky was knocked to the ground, but no punches were thrown and order was quickly restored. Both players were assessed a technical foul and ejected.  The Knicks’ 47-point halftime lead (83-36) was an NBA postseason record.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Knicks #finish #Hawks #recordsetting #51point #blowoutApr 30, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) drives past Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) in the first quarter during game six of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

OG Anunoby scored 26 of his 29 points in the first half to lead visiting New York to a historic 140-89 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday as the Knicks won their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series 4-2.

It was the most points scored by the Knicks in a playoff game and their largest winning margin in the postseason. The only bigger victory margin in club history came earlier this year, when New York routed the Brooklyn Nets 120-66 on Jan. 21.

The Hawks endured the second-worst postseason defeat in franchise history. The then-St. Louis Hawks lost 133-75 to the Minneapolis Lakers on March 19, 1956.

New York, who produced a 63-11 first-half run, led by as many as 61 and beat the Hawks for the third straight game to advance to the conference semifinals for the fourth straight year. The third-seeded Knicks next will face either the second-seeded Boston Celtics or the seventh-seeded Philadelphia 76ers.

Anunoby shot 11-for-14 from the field and added seven rebounds and four steals.

“I work hard on my game and the ball finds me,” Anunoby said.

New York’s Mikal Bridges scored 24 points, Jalen Brunson had 17 points and eight assists. Karl-Anthony Towns had his second career playoff triple-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, with three steals. The starters were out of the game midway in the third quarter.


“I thought we did a great job with our defense,” Towns said. “You know, I thought our offense was created by our defense (which) did a great job of causing turnovers, upping the pressure, and we executed offensively. It’s a great recipe for success.”

Sixth-seeded Atlanta was led by Jalen Johnson with 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

“I did not see it going down like this tonight,” said Atlanta’s CJ McCollum, who scored 11 points. “None of us did.”

The Knicks took control early and showed their dominance in the first quarter, taking a 40-15 lead into the second. New York shot 69.2% from the field (18-for-26) and was helped greatly by eight Atlanta turnovers. Anunoby scored 14 in the opening quarter.

The Knicks finished the first quarter on a 31-4 run, which became a 39-4 run as the lead continued to grow.

Tempers flared in the second quarter and resulted in New York’s Mitchell Robinson and Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels being ejected for a fracas with 4:39 left in the half.

While battling for position on a free throw, Daniels hit Robinson with a high elbow. Pushing ensued and official Brent Barnaky was knocked to the ground, but no punches were thrown and order was quickly restored. Both players were assessed a technical foul and ejected.

The Knicks’ 47-point halftime lead (83-36) was an NBA postseason record.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Knicks #finish #Hawks #recordsetting #51point #blowout">Deadspin | Knicks finish off Hawks with record-setting 51-point blowout  Apr 30, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) drives past Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) in the first quarter during game six of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images   OG Anunoby scored 26 of his 29 points in the first half to lead visiting New York to a historic 140-89 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday as the Knicks won their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series 4-2.  It was the most points scored by the Knicks in a playoff game and their largest winning margin in the postseason. The only bigger victory margin in club history came earlier this year, when New York routed the Brooklyn Nets 120-66 on Jan. 21.  The Hawks endured the second-worst postseason defeat in franchise history. The then-St. Louis Hawks lost 133-75 to the Minneapolis Lakers on March 19, 1956.  New York, who produced a 63-11 first-half run, led by as many as 61 and beat the Hawks for the third straight game to advance to the conference semifinals for the fourth straight year. The third-seeded Knicks next will face either the second-seeded Boston Celtics or the seventh-seeded Philadelphia 76ers.  Anunoby shot 11-for-14 from the field and added seven rebounds and four steals.  “I work hard on my game and the ball finds me,” Anunoby said.  New York’s Mikal Bridges scored 24 points, Jalen Brunson had 17 points and eight assists. Karl-Anthony Towns had his second career playoff triple-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, with three steals. The starters were out of the game midway in the third quarter.  “I thought we did a great job with our defense,” Towns said. “You know, I thought our offense was created by our defense (which) did a great job of causing turnovers, upping the pressure, and we executed offensively. It’s a great recipe for success.”   Sixth-seeded Atlanta was led by Jalen Johnson with 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists.  “I did not see it going down like this tonight,” said Atlanta’s CJ McCollum, who scored 11 points. “None of us did.”  The Knicks took control early and showed their dominance in the first quarter, taking a 40-15 lead into the second. New York shot 69.2% from the field (18-for-26) and was helped greatly by eight Atlanta turnovers. Anunoby scored 14 in the opening quarter.  The Knicks finished the first quarter on a 31-4 run, which became a 39-4 run as the lead continued to grow.  Tempers flared in the second quarter and resulted in New York’s Mitchell Robinson and Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels being ejected for a fracas with 4:39 left in the half.  While battling for position on a free throw, Daniels hit Robinson with a high elbow. Pushing ensued and official Brent Barnaky was knocked to the ground, but no punches were thrown and order was quickly restored. Both players were assessed a technical foul and ejected.  The Knicks’ 47-point halftime lead (83-36) was an NBA postseason record.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Knicks #finish #Hawks #recordsetting #51point #blowout

South Africa plans to arrive in Mexico almost a fortnight before the opening game of ​the World Cup in order to acclimatise to the altitude, coach ‌Hugo Broos said. Co-host Mexico opens the tournament on ​June 11 with a Group A match against ⁠South Africa at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, which is 2,200m (7,216 feet) above sea level.

While most of the South African players ‌are based at clubs in Johannesburg, which has an altitude of 1,753m, Broos says his squad needs ‌time to adjust to the conditions in Mexico before ‌the ⁠opening game.

The squad will travel on May 30 to ⁠their base in Pachuca, which is around 200 metres higher than Mexico City. The city is less than 100 km from Mexico City.

“The first ​days it will be difficult ‌to train at 100 per cent because of the altitude, so that is what we will do in the second week,” Broos said in a radio interview.

READ: Mexican goalkeeping legend Guillermo Ochoa to retire after FIFA World Cup 2026

South Africa plans to ‌take on Nicaragua at home in a friendly on ​May 29, although this is not confirmed, and is negotiating to have Puerto Rico as a ⁠warm-up opponent for a second international scrimmage in Pachuca. In its other World Cup group matches, South Africa will meet the ‌Czech Republic in Atlanta on June 18 and South Korea in Monterrey on June 24, seeking to advance past the first round for the first time in its fourth World Cup appearance.

“It’s not an easy group for us. First of all, we will face the host in the opening ‌game, at the Azteca Stadium, and it will be very difficult for ​us there,” Broos said earlier in the year. But the veteran coach, who played for semifinalist Belgium ⁠at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, has also previously predicted ⁠his side could cause some upsets at the tournament, which is also being played in Canada and the ‌U.S.

South Africa and Mexico drew 1-1 at Soccer City in Johannesburg in the opening game of the 2010 ​World Cup, which South Africa hosted.

Published on May 01, 2026

#South #Africa #plans #early #Mexico #arrival #adapt #World #Cup #opener">South Africa plans early Mexico arrival to adapt for World Cup opener  South Africa plans to arrive in Mexico almost a fortnight before the opening game of ​the World Cup in order to acclimatise to the altitude, coach ‌Hugo Broos said. Co-host Mexico opens the tournament on ​June 11 with a Group A match against ⁠South Africa at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, which is 2,200m (7,216 feet) above sea level.While most of the South African players ‌are based at clubs in Johannesburg, which has an altitude of 1,753m, Broos says his squad needs ‌time to adjust to the conditions in Mexico before ‌the ⁠opening game.The squad will travel on May 30 to ⁠their base in Pachuca, which is around 200 metres higher than Mexico City. The city is less than 100 km from Mexico City.“The first ​days it will be difficult ‌to train at 100 per cent because of the altitude, so that is what we will do in the second week,” Broos said in a radio interview.READ: Mexican goalkeeping legend Guillermo Ochoa to retire after FIFA World Cup 2026South Africa plans to ‌take on Nicaragua at home in a friendly on ​May 29, although this is not confirmed, and is negotiating to have Puerto Rico as a ⁠warm-up opponent for a second international scrimmage in Pachuca. In its other World Cup group matches, South Africa will meet the ‌Czech Republic in Atlanta on June 18 and South Korea in Monterrey on June 24, seeking to advance past the first round for the first time in its fourth World Cup appearance.“It’s not an easy group for us. First of all, we will face the host in the opening ‌game, at the Azteca Stadium, and it will be very difficult for ​us there,” Broos said earlier in the year. But the veteran coach, who played for semifinalist Belgium ⁠at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, has also previously predicted ⁠his side could cause some upsets at the tournament, which is also being played in Canada and the ‌U.S.South Africa and Mexico drew 1-1 at Soccer City in Johannesburg in the opening game of the 2010 ​World Cup, which South Africa hosted.Published on May 01, 2026  #South #Africa #plans #early #Mexico #arrival #adapt #World #Cup #opener

Mexican goalkeeping legend Guillermo Ochoa to retire after FIFA World Cup 2026

South Africa plans to ‌take on Nicaragua at home in a friendly on ​May 29, although this is not confirmed, and is negotiating to have Puerto Rico as a ⁠warm-up opponent for a second international scrimmage in Pachuca. In its other World Cup group matches, South Africa will meet the ‌Czech Republic in Atlanta on June 18 and South Korea in Monterrey on June 24, seeking to advance past the first round for the first time in its fourth World Cup appearance.

“It’s not an easy group for us. First of all, we will face the host in the opening ‌game, at the Azteca Stadium, and it will be very difficult for ​us there,” Broos said earlier in the year. But the veteran coach, who played for semifinalist Belgium ⁠at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, has also previously predicted ⁠his side could cause some upsets at the tournament, which is also being played in Canada and the ‌U.S.

South Africa and Mexico drew 1-1 at Soccer City in Johannesburg in the opening game of the 2010 ​World Cup, which South Africa hosted.

Published on May 01, 2026

#South #Africa #plans #early #Mexico #arrival #adapt #World #Cup #opener">South Africa plans early Mexico arrival to adapt for World Cup opener

South Africa plans to arrive in Mexico almost a fortnight before the opening game of ​the World Cup in order to acclimatise to the altitude, coach ‌Hugo Broos said. Co-host Mexico opens the tournament on ​June 11 with a Group A match against ⁠South Africa at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, which is 2,200m (7,216 feet) above sea level.

While most of the South African players ‌are based at clubs in Johannesburg, which has an altitude of 1,753m, Broos says his squad needs ‌time to adjust to the conditions in Mexico before ‌the ⁠opening game.

The squad will travel on May 30 to ⁠their base in Pachuca, which is around 200 metres higher than Mexico City. The city is less than 100 km from Mexico City.

“The first ​days it will be difficult ‌to train at 100 per cent because of the altitude, so that is what we will do in the second week,” Broos said in a radio interview.

READ: Mexican goalkeeping legend Guillermo Ochoa to retire after FIFA World Cup 2026

South Africa plans to ‌take on Nicaragua at home in a friendly on ​May 29, although this is not confirmed, and is negotiating to have Puerto Rico as a ⁠warm-up opponent for a second international scrimmage in Pachuca. In its other World Cup group matches, South Africa will meet the ‌Czech Republic in Atlanta on June 18 and South Korea in Monterrey on June 24, seeking to advance past the first round for the first time in its fourth World Cup appearance.

“It’s not an easy group for us. First of all, we will face the host in the opening ‌game, at the Azteca Stadium, and it will be very difficult for ​us there,” Broos said earlier in the year. But the veteran coach, who played for semifinalist Belgium ⁠at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, has also previously predicted ⁠his side could cause some upsets at the tournament, which is also being played in Canada and the ‌U.S.

South Africa and Mexico drew 1-1 at Soccer City in Johannesburg in the opening game of the 2010 ​World Cup, which South Africa hosted.

Published on May 01, 2026

#South #Africa #plans #early #Mexico #arrival #adapt #World #Cup #opener

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