Mexico opened their tournament with a 2-0 win over South Africa, though their underlying numbers were modest: an xG of 1.33 with just four shots on target from 61% possession. The result was convincing on the scoreboard but the performance suggested they were not yet firing at full capacity against a side ranked 60th in the world. Their pre-tournament friendlies showed a team in good form — wins over Serbia, Australia, and Ghana — though those opponents were weaker and the matches carry limited weight now that tournament evidence exists. The draw with Belgium in April, where they managed only three shots on target, is a more useful reference point for how they perform against quality opposition.