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Mexico v South Africa team news: Rangel starts

11 June 2026 250 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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After much discussion, copious articles and draft after draft of Fantasy FIFA World Cup 2026 teams, the action finally begins tonight.

Co-hosts Mexico get the 2026 World Cup underway against South Africa in a re-run of the 2010 curtain-raiser.

Kick-off is at 20:00 BST.

TEAM NEWS

After much debate, Raul Rangel ($4.9m) gets the nod over Guillermo Ochoa ($4.2m) between the posts for Mexico. The former is owned by 4.9% of managers at the time of writing, so he is right on the cusp of passing the Scouting Bonus threshold.

Further forward, a familiar face to Fantasy Premier League managers, Raul Jimenez ($7.0m), leads the line. 

The 17-year-old prodigy, Gilberto Mora ($4.5m), the youngest player at the World Cup, is on the bench.

As for South Africa, Burnley’s Lyle Foster ($5.4m) spearheads the attack.

While Rangel is flirting with the 5% ownership mark, no other player on show tonight is above that figure.

LINE-UPS

Mexico XI: Rangel, Montes, Vasquez, Reyes, Gallardo, Lira, Fidalgo, Alvarado, Gutierrez, Jimenez, Quinones.

Subs: Acevedo, Ochoa, Sanchez, Alvarez, Chavez, Romo, Pineda, Vargas, Mora, Chavez, Vega, Gimenez, Gonzalez, Huerta, Martinez.

South Africa XI: Williams, Modiba, Mbokazi, Sibisi, Mudau, Okon, Mokoena, Sithole, Adams, Foster, Rayners.

Subs: Chaine, Goss, Matuludi, Ndamane, Kabini, Makhanya, Sebelebele, Cross, Mbatha, Appolis, Moremi, Mofokeng, Zwane, Maseko, Makgopa.

Fantasy FIFA World Cup 2026: Get involved with our coverage!

READ MORE OF OUR FANTASY FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 CONTENT

GROUP A: Mexico | South Africa | Korea Republic | Czechia
GROUP B: Canada | Bosnia & Herzegovina | Qatar | Switzerland
GROUP C: Brazil | Morocco | Haiti | Scotland
GROUP D: USA | Paraguay | Australia | Turkiye
GROUP E: Germany | Curacao | Cote d’Ivoire | Ecuador
GROUP F: Netherlands | Japan | Sweden | Tunisia
GROUP G: Belgium | Egypt | Iran | New Zealand
GROUP H: Spain | Cabo Verde | Saudi Arabia | Uruguay
GROUP I: France | Senegal | Iraq | Norway
GROUP J: Argentina | Algeria | Austria | Jordan
GROUP K: Portugal | DR Congo | Uzbekistan | Colombia
GROUP L: England | Croatia | Ghana | Panama

Round 1 Scout Picks | Round 1 best captains | Round 1 best differentials: | Sleep-friendly XV | Players to avoid | Team reveals | Best players by position + price

Predicted line-ups | Penalty + corner takers | Direct free-kick takers

How to play World Cup 2026 Fantasy | What is ‘Scouting Bonus’? | How to order your starters + subs | Can you captain, transfer or sub 12th Man? | 150 of the best, worst and funniest team names

Join our mini-league + win prizes! | Stats Centre | FREE AI Team Rater | Fixture Ticker | Scouting Bonus tracker | Fixture calendar

250 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. BeaversWithAttitude
    • 7 Years
    6 hours, 31 mins ago

    Jiménez close to tears! Get in, man!

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  2. Travel Notes
    • 3 Years
    6 hours, 29 mins ago

    Now Mexico are wanting it.

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    1. Travel Notes
      • 3 Years
      6 hours, 28 mins ago

      Ref's not having it.

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  3. Pino
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    6 hours, 24 mins ago

    Just noticed my goalkeeper in my starting 11 plays after my goalkeeper on the bench. If I swap them and my new goalkeeper doesn't keep a clean sheet, can I still bring back the first goalkeeper from my bench?

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    1. Pino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 hours, 20 mins ago

      Edit: Yes its possible. You can rearange all the players as long as they have not played.

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      1. Ciro Di Marzio
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        6 hours, 15 mins ago

        Ah you’re lucky! I was about to comment that I’m sure I’d read a player couldn’t be subbed out until after he played.

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  4. Mother Farke
    • 2 Years
    6 hours, 20 mins ago

    South Africa still trying FFS

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    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      6 hours, 19 mins ago

      Good on them, at least the last 15min aren't dead then

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    2. Travel Notes
      • 3 Years
      6 hours, 18 mins ago

      My Prediction: South Africa will not win the 2026 World Cup; or will Mexico.

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  5. JBG
    • 8 Years
    6 hours, 18 mins ago

    South Africa wanting another RC

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    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      6 hours, 17 mins ago

      And they got it

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      1. Travel Notes
        • 3 Years
        6 hours, 17 mins ago

        Snap

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    2. tutankamun
      • 16 Years
      6 hours, 17 mins ago

      Insane

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    3. Travel Notes
      • 3 Years
      6 hours, 17 mins ago

      And they got it.

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  6. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    6 hours, 17 mins ago

    Another red for South Africa.

    Oh dear.

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  7. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    6 hours, 17 mins ago

    Lol, wot?

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  8. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    6 hours, 17 mins ago

    SA down to nine men….

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    1. Travel Notes
      • 3 Years
      6 hours, 16 mins ago

      Really in the Sithole now.

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      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        6 hours, 16 mins ago

        Deep in the Sithole….

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  9. BeaversWithAttitude
    • 7 Years
    6 hours, 17 mins ago

    Doubt either of the players sent off will see another match – rough!

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    1. tutankamun
      • 16 Years
      6 hours, 14 mins ago

      Sithole will be back

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  10. Thanos
    • 4 Years
    6 hours, 16 mins ago

    Will SA have enough players for MD2 at this rate 😆

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  11. JBG
    • 8 Years
    6 hours, 16 mins ago

    No reason to be upset, it's your own stupid fault. Absolutely no reason to hit the Mexican player like that.

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  12. Thanos
    • 4 Years
    6 hours, 15 mins ago

    Rangel on 8 points now. Don’t think will be swapping him out now.

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    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 hours, 14 mins ago

      nope, 8 points from a GK or defender is an acceptable return

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    2. tutankamun
      • 16 Years
      6 hours, 13 mins ago

      I had Simon as a ‘back up’. Waste of a Spanish slot in hindsight.

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      1. tutankamun
        • 16 Years
        6 hours, 10 mins ago

        Only showing 7 for me though?

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        1. Thanos
          • 4 Years
          6 hours, 8 mins ago

          Yeah looks like they took his save point out now. Strange. Was on 8 until now.

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          1. tutankamun
            • 16 Years
            6 hours, 6 mins ago

            Yes, I did see that. Odd.

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            1. Better off with a pin and a…
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              5 hours, 58 mins ago

              The third save was just after the 2nd red card - so when VaR gave the red the save never happened.

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      2. Thanos
        • 4 Years
        6 hours, 8 mins ago

        Same

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  13. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    6 hours, 15 mins ago

    If it carries on like this, we’re on for 208 x RCs in this WC…

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    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      6 hours, 9 mins ago

      * 312 x RCs lol

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  14. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    6 hours, 11 mins ago

    Fair to say that SA’s WC is over after 90mins?

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    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 hours, 8 mins ago

      yeah but in the unlikely event they do win one of their next 2 games that would probably be enough to make the knockouts

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      1. Travel Notes
        • 3 Years
        6 hours, 2 mins ago

        And play Mexico in the final.

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  15. Thanos
    • 4 Years
    6 hours, 9 mins ago

    Montes RC

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  16. JBG
    • 8 Years
    6 hours, 8 mins ago

    Fcking lol this match has been entertaining as hell, in a very special way

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    1. Dunk and Disorderly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 hours, 6 mins ago

      lol

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  17. tutankamun
    • 16 Years
    6 hours, 8 mins ago

    Hopefully no Montes captainers?

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    1. Deulofail
      • 10 Years
      6 hours, 6 mins ago

      Yes me, and the majority of people who own him I’d have thought

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    2. SM001
      • 10 Years
      6 hours, 6 mins ago

      Even if there was they can change it you melon.

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      1. tutankamun
        • 16 Years
        6 hours, 4 mins ago

        Ok mate

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      2. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        6 hours ago

        They can't xD

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        1. FPL Brains
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          5 hours, 17 mins ago

          Yes they can.

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  18. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    6 hours, 8 mins ago

    The final will be a 5-a-side game…

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  19. Deulofail
    • 10 Years
    6 hours, 7 mins ago

    Nooooo Montes!!!!! What are the odds

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  20. Thanos
    • 4 Years
    6 hours, 6 mins ago

    SA has been so awful with their dead ball deliveries

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  21. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    6 hours, 6 mins ago

    Think Deulofail has Montes

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    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      6 hours, 5 mins ago

      What are the odds…

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  22. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    6 hours, 5 mins ago

    Mexico wanted to join the red card party also.

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  23. JBG
    • 8 Years
    6 hours, 2 mins ago

    Wasn't the best match, quality wise. But at least it was entertaining hehe.

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  24. Mother Farke
    • 2 Years
    6 hours, 1 min ago

    Relieved I can change Montes (C). Heart in mouth lol

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    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      5 hours, 58 mins ago

      Not playing, but I’ve played similar games where a red carded captain can’t be changed. Are you sure?

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      1. Mother Farke
        • 2 Years
        5 hours, 56 mins ago

        The interface lets me at the moment! *sweats*

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      2. Better off with a pin and a…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        5 hours, 49 mins ago

        I definitely remember games where you couldn't, but don't see it in the rules this time.

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  25. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    6 hours ago

    Vasquez(C)

    Stick or twist? Twist obviously?

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    1. tutankamun
      • 16 Years
      5 hours, 57 mins ago

      Got to be twist. 9 points is a good start for a defender though.

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    2. The Florentine assassin
      • 3 Years
      5 hours, 42 mins ago

      I am sticking with Vasquez (C). My next in line was Son in the next game but 18pt's is ok for me .

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      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        5 hours, 40 mins ago

        Seems way too conservative to take just a plain old clean sheet and scouting bonus.

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    3. Travel Notes
      • 3 Years
      5 hours, 24 mins ago

      I'm sticking. Saves twisting every day until you get to Ronaldo; and he blanks.

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  26. Weeb Kakashi
    • 10 Years
    5 hours, 58 mins ago

    Montes now suspended for the next match?

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  27. Kebab pig
    • 5 Years
    5 hours, 51 mins ago

    There was a guy who was promoting Montes over Vasques a lot. Wonder where he is now

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    1. Travel Notes
      • 3 Years
      5 hours, 23 mins ago

      Seeing red.

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  28. keefy59
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 hours, 49 mins ago

    Does the ref get to take the match ball home with him
    After his hat trick of 3 red cards

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    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      5 hours, 46 mins ago

      🙂

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    2. The Florentine assassin
      • 3 Years
      5 hours, 41 mins ago

      He should be allowed after all he stole the match away from both teams and the world and made it his own.

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  29. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    5 hours, 43 mins ago

    Is it too greedy to switch my keeper off of Rangel > Nyland?

    Iraq surely don't score against Norway right??

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    1. The Florentine assassin
      • 3 Years
      5 hours, 39 mins ago

      Probably not but if they (Iraq) do not score, is the Gk really going to do much better than 7pts if at all. The odds are definitely stacked in favour of sticking with a 7pt goalkeeper. Always the chance of a Nyland penalty save but I would not risk it.

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      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        5 hours, 19 mins ago

        No there's scouting bonus also. It would be 9 points for a Nyland CS.

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        1. The Florentine assassin
          • 3 Years
          4 hours, 54 mins ago

          Ok I did not know he was under the 5% mark but even so I would not risk the might of the Iraq attack when you could just sit back & relax 🙂

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    2. FPL Brains
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      5 hours, 16 mins ago

      Same keepers, I'm going to hold on Rangel. Upside is two points, downside is five.

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  30. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    5 hours, 41 mins ago

    What’s the best link for World Cup fantasy?

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    1. Scapegoat Salah
      • 9 Years
      5 hours, 39 mins ago

      Nevermind looks like I can’t enter a team until next week now, was going to pick a team for tomorrow

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      1. Scapegoat Salah
        • 9 Years
        5 hours, 33 mins ago

        Ah found one where I can

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