Bafana take on co-hosts Mexico in the opening game of the tournament at the Azteca Stadium on June 11, some 85 kilometres from their training base.
They will also travel to Atlanta in the United States for their second game against a European qualifier (June 18) that will be decided in late March, before returning to Mexico to meet South Korea in Guadalupe (June 24).
Flashscore revealed some weeks ago that Bafana would be based in Pachuca, and Broos has now explained his reasoning having spent the last few days at the training facility.
“Once we knew the composition of the group, I felt the game against Mexico had to be a special one for us, not because it’s Mexico, but because of the altitude,” Broos told reporters in Pachuca.
“I was here at the 1986 World Cup with Belgium as a player, so I knew from experience that, before we play Mexico, we need a proper high-altitude camp.
“I met the people from Pachuca in Washington and they proposed this location. I told them we would look at all the options over the next few weeks and then make a decision. There were other possibilities, but one thing was very important to me: we had to be in Mexico early and start the altitude camp, not travel in from somewhere else just a few days before the match.
“So we got back in contact with Pachuca. The distance between Mexico City and Pachuca is about 85 kilometres, that is nothing, but I also needed to see the facilities, because they must be good.”
Broos says he is very happy with what he has seen and that the venue will provide excellent preparation for his team.
“I’m very pleased with what we saw: two good pitches, a fitness room, medical facilities, everything we need to have a very good preparation for that match,” he said.
“I’m very happy we found something that suits us so well. The reception and the attention we have received over the past days also makes me happy.
“Now I’m looking forward to coming to Pachuca, maybe already on 31 May, but certainly by 1 June, because we need about 10 days to adapt to the altitude, and also to manage the jet lag with the eight-hour difference from South Africa.”