South Africa began its World Cup campaign with a disastrous 2-0 loss to Mexico. On the Global News Podcast, the match was described as one "probably remembered for the three red cards," with South Africa offering little resistance after a second-half ejection.
The tactical analysis was even more unforgiving on The Rest Is Football, where Alan Shearer blasted the team's decision to play out from the back as "brain-dead". While Alan Shearer was not overly impressed by Mexico, he observed that the South African side simply chose to self-destruct.
Outside of football, the country is drawing attention for its cultural history and other sporting draws. Tom Holland announced on The Rest Is History that South Africa is on the docket for their upcoming series exploring national anthems. Meanwhile, a listener on The Ramsey Show recalled trying to buy pre-sale tickets for a rugby match featuring South Africa versus New Zealand.