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Mexico v South Africa team news: Rangel starts

11 June 2026 252 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

252 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. BeaversWithAttitude
    4 months, 13 days ago

    Jiménez close to tears! Get in, man!

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  2. Nomadic Spurs
    4 months, 13 days ago

    Now Mexico are wanting it.

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    1. Nomadic Spurs
      4 months, 13 days ago

      Ref's not having it.

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  3. Pino
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    4 months, 13 days 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
      4 months, 13 days 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
        4 months, 13 days 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
    4 months, 13 days ago

    South Africa still trying FFS

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    1. JBG
      4 months, 13 days ago

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

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    2. Nomadic Spurs
      4 months, 13 days ago

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

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  5. JBG
    4 months, 13 days ago

    South Africa wanting another RC

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    1. JBG
      4 months, 13 days ago

      And they got it

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      1. Nomadic Spurs
        4 months, 13 days ago

        Snap

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    2. tutankamun
      4 months, 13 days ago

      Insane

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    3. Nomadic Spurs
      4 months, 13 days ago

      And they got it.

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  6. CoracAld2831
    4 months, 13 days ago

    Another red for South Africa.

    Oh dear.

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  7. THE Wild Rover
    4 months, 13 days ago

    Lol, wot?

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  8. Jafooli
    4 months, 13 days ago

    SA down to nine men….

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    1. Nomadic Spurs
      4 months, 13 days ago

      Really in the Sithole now.

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      1. Jafooli
        4 months, 13 days ago

        Deep in the Sithole….

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  9. BeaversWithAttitude
    4 months, 13 days ago

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

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    1. tutankamun
      4 months, 13 days ago

      Sithole will be back

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  10. Thanos
    4 months, 13 days ago

    Will SA have enough players for MD2 at this rate 😆

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  11. JBG
    4 months, 13 days 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 months, 13 days 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
      4 months, 13 days ago

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

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    2. tutankamun
      4 months, 13 days ago

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

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      1. tutankamun
        4 months, 13 days ago

        Only showing 7 for me though?

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        1. Thanos
          4 months, 13 days ago

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

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          1. tutankamun
            4 months, 13 days ago

            Yes, I did see that. Odd.

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            1. Better off with a pin and a…
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              4 months, 12 days 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 months, 13 days ago

        Same

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  13. Jafooli
    4 months, 13 days ago

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

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    1. Jafooli
      4 months, 13 days ago

      * 312 x RCs lol

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  14. Jafooli
    4 months, 13 days ago

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

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    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      4 months, 13 days 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. Nomadic Spurs
        4 months, 13 days ago

        And play Mexico in the final.

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  15. Thanos
    4 months, 13 days ago

    Montes RC

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  16. JBG
    4 months, 13 days 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
      4 months, 13 days ago

      lol

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  17. tutankamun
    4 months, 13 days ago

    Hopefully no Montes captainers?

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    1. Deulofail
      4 months, 13 days ago

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

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    2. SM001
      4 months, 13 days ago

      Even if there was they can change it you melon.

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      1. tutankamun
        4 months, 13 days ago

        Ok mate

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      2. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        4 months, 12 days ago

        They can't xD

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        1. FPL Brains
          • Has Moderation Rights
          4 months, 12 days ago

          Yes they can.

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  18. Jafooli
    4 months, 13 days ago

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

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  19. Deulofail
    4 months, 13 days ago

    Nooooo Montes!!!!! What are the odds

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  20. Thanos
    4 months, 13 days ago

    SA has been so awful with their dead ball deliveries

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  21. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    4 months, 13 days ago

    Think Deulofail has Montes

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    1. Jafooli
      4 months, 13 days ago

      What are the odds…

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  22. CoracAld2831
    4 months, 13 days ago

    Mexico wanted to join the red card party also.

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  23. JBG
    4 months, 13 days ago

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

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  24. Mother Farke
    4 months, 13 days ago

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

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    1. THE Wild Rover
      4 months, 12 days 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
        4 months, 12 days 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
        4 months, 12 days 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
    4 months, 12 days ago

    Vasquez(C)

    Stick or twist? Twist obviously?

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    1. tutankamun
      4 months, 12 days ago

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

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    2. The Florentine assassin
      4 months, 12 days 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
        4 months, 12 days ago

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

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    3. Nomadic Spurs
      4 months, 12 days ago

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

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  26. Weeb Kakashi
    4 months, 12 days ago

    Montes now suspended for the next match?

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  27. Kebab pig
    4 months, 12 days ago

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

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    1. Nomadic Spurs
      4 months, 12 days ago

      Seeing red.

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  28. keefy59
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    4 months, 12 days 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
      4 months, 12 days ago

      🙂

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    2. The Florentine assassin
      4 months, 12 days 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
    4 months, 12 days 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
      4 months, 12 days 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
        4 months, 12 days ago

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

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        1. The Florentine assassin
          4 months, 12 days 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
      • Has Moderation Rights
      4 months, 12 days ago

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

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  30. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
    4 months, 12 days ago

    What’s the best link for World Cup fantasy?

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    1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
      4 months, 12 days 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. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
        4 months, 12 days ago

        Ah found one where I can

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