OkayAfrica x Elsewhere Brings Brooklyn Together for South Africa vs Mexico Watch Party

Sixteen years after South Africa and Mexico faced off in the opening match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, fans from both countries came together in Brooklyn, New York, to watch the teams meet again on football’s biggest stage.

Yesterday, June 11, OkayAfrica, in partnership with Red Bull, hosted a watch party at Elsewhere in Brooklyn for South Africa’s opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. While the action unfolded at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Mexico, the energy inside the venue made it feel as though fans were much closer to the tournament itself.

The matchup carried special significance for South Africans. When South Africa hosted the World Cup in 2010, Mexico was the first opponent Bafana Bafana faced in the tournament opener, which ended in a 1-1 draw. That match produced one of the most iconic moments in World Cup history when Siphiwe Tshabalala fired a spectacular long-range strike into the top corner, scoring the tournament’s first goal and creating a moment that still lives on in football history.

This year’s meeting brought a different result. Mexico secured a 2-0 victory over South Africa, but the scoreline did little to dampen the atmosphere inside Elsewhere.

The crowd mirrored the on-screen matchup, with South African and Mexican fans turning out in nearly equal numbers. While loyalties were divided once the game kicked off, the atmosphere remained friendly throughout the afternoon, with supporters from both countries sharing drinks, conversations, and plenty of good-natured banter.

Every South African attack drew hopeful reactions from one side of the room, while Mexico’s goals sparked celebrations from the other. The mix of supporters created one of the day’s most memorable elements, turning the watch party into as much a cultural exchange as a football event. South African and Mexican supporters stayed side by side throughout the afternoon, proving that while football creates rivals for 90 minutes, it also creates community long after the match ends.

When the final whistle blew, the evening was far from over.

DJ Tab ill kept the energy high with sets during halftime and after the match, transforming the venue into a celebration that continued well into the night. Fans packed the dance floor, sang along to familiar kwaito and amapiano tracks, and kept the party going long after the game ended.

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway across North America, with a historic 10 African teams playing at this year’s tournament, the opening night in Brooklyn was a reminder of the sport’s power to bring people together across borders, generations, and time zones. South Africa may have fallen to Mexico on the pitch, but the sense of community inside Elsewhere was a win all its own.

Check out photos from the watch party below.