The vast majority of those supporters will be backing the home side, creating a daunting challenge for Hugo Broos' squad as South Africa open their World Cup campaign on one of football's grandest stages.

Broos admitted the occasion will be unlike anything his players have previously experienced and stressed the importance of remaining focused amid the noise and emotion of the tournament curtain-raiser.

"You know, it will be a special and fantastic experience for us because my players have never played in this kind of situation before," said the Bafana coach.

"So it will be very important for us to stick to the game plan and not listen to what is happening in the stands. We all know that there will be thousands of Mexicans inside the stadium and maybe a few South Africans."

While South Africa's travelling support is expected to be limited, Broos believes his players can draw strength from the millions of supporters cheering them on from home.

"We know that we have the support of the nation and we felt it in the last few days, and last week when we started the preparations in South Africa.

"All of South Africa is supporting us. This is something we have to remember on Thursday when the game starts, that we are playing for our nation. We are playing for all those people who believe in us."

As significant as the occasion is for his players, it also carries special meaning for Broos himself.

The 74-year-old will return to the Estadio Azteca exactly 40 years after featuring there as a player for Belgium at the 1986 FIFA World Cup. Remarkably, that match was also an opening-group encounter against Mexico.

"It was a fantastic event 40 years ago and something I will never forget, when we played our opening game against Mexico," Broos said.

"For me as a player it was also a period where I could feel that the World Cup was something special.

"Now I am back in Mexico, playing the opening game against Mexico in the Azteca Stadium. It is amazing that this happens, that I am here as a coach, and again I am excited."

Mexico won that 1986 meeting 2-1, though Belgium would go on to enjoy a memorable tournament, eventually finishing fourth.

Broos, however, insists there is no desire for revenge four decades later.

"Not at all. There is no revenge. If we were playing another team I would have the same feeling now," he said.

"The history of 40 years ago comes back to me now. But it has nothing to do with the team. It has to do with the environment, the stadium.

"I am not sitting on the bench to take revenge for that defeat against Mexico with Belgium. I am not that kind of person, I just want to win against Mexico like any other coach would."

Meanwhile, Broos also brushed aside concerns after footage from Bafana's closed-door warm-up match against Jamaica appeared on social media.

"There were some highlights or whatever on social media that was also a surprise for me, so I don't know how those people came in the stadium," he said.

"But that doesn't bother me. I think the coach of Mexico doesn't need that game, and I also don't need a game that Mexico might play behind closed doors.

"Because I know enough about Mexico and I saw enough games of them. Those things are happening but, again, it doesn't bother me."

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