2026 FIFA World Cup Kicks Off with Mexico vs. South Africa

Kathmandu. The opening match of the 2010 World Cup, held on African soil, featured hosts South Africa and Mexico. That match ended in a 1-1 draw.

On Friday morning, these two teams will face each other again in the same stage. As the highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup begins in North America, co-host Mexico will welcome South Africa.

The prestigious Estadio Azteca stadium is expected to be attended by 80,000 spectators. This is sure to make the opening match a spectacular sight.

• Start of the Biggest World Cup Ever

The 39-day tournament will begin with the match in Mexico City on Thursday. It will feature a total of 104 games. This is 40 more than the previous edition in Qatar in 2022.

The 2026 World Cup, with the participation of 48 teams, is the biggest tournament in football history. It is also the first World Cup to be jointly hosted by three countries: the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

The opening ceremony will take place exactly 90 minutes before the match begins. It will feature a main performance by four-time Grammy Award winner superstar Shakira. Additionally, Colombian singer J Balvin and South African singer-songwriter Tyla will also give musical performances.

• Co-host Mexico Faces Home Ground Pressure

The World Cup is not a new subject for Mexico, a football-loving nation. The Mexican team is preparing to play in its 17th World Cup.

Hosting the opening match of the tournament is a big deal in itself. The massive Estadio Azteca stadium is ready to make it even more special. This stadium will be the first in history to host the opening match of three FIFA World Cups (1960, 1986, and 2026).

Mexico is considered to have a strong chance in this match due to the home advantage and their higher FIFA ranking. However, the co-host will be under pressure to meet the expectations of over 80,000 spectators and start with a victory.

Mexico is unbeaten in their last eight matches. This is their longest unbeaten run before entering the World Cup. This has given Javier Aguirre's team further encouragement.

• Don't Underestimate South Africa

South Africa, ranked 60th in the FIFA rankings, is significantly lower than Mexico, ranked 14th. However, South African coach Hugo Broos is confident that his team can produce an unexpected result.

Unlike Mexico, which is a regular at the World Cup, South Africa is returning to the world stage after a 16-year absence. This will be only their fourth World Cup participation.

Speaking to reporters before the opening match, Broos said, 'This will be a great experience for us.'

He added, 'It is very important for us to stick to our game plan and not pay attention to what is happening in the stands.'

South Africa's preparation was hampered by the late arrival of some members of the touring party due to visa issues. This caused them to miss crucial time to acclimatize to the environment in central Mexico.

However, Broos's team has come this far by overcoming a tough qualifying phase. They hope to disappoint the hosts once again.

• How Will the World Cup Group Stage Progress?

Mexico, South Africa, Czech Republic, and South Korea are in Group 'A'.

The top two teams from all 12 groups and the best eight third-placed teams will advance to the next round. The Round of 32 is being implemented for the first time in the World Cup.

• Mexico Leads Head-to-Head Against South Africa

Thursday's match will be only the fifth meeting between these two teams. In previous encounters, Mexico has won twice and South Africa once. One match ended in a draw.

Their last meeting was in the opening match of the 2010 World Cup. Siphiwe Tshabalala's spectacular opening goal in Johannesburg, in front of 84,490 spectators, was balanced by Rafael Márquez's equalizing goal, and both teams settled for a 1-1 draw.

Results of the Last Five Matches

• Mexico: Win-Win-Win-Draw-Draw
• South Africa: Draw-Draw-Loss-Draw-Loss

Mexico enters the opening match after winning three consecutive friendly matches against World Cup-bound teams Ghana and Australia, as well as Serbia.

However, South Africa is disappointed with their performance in the pre-tournament preparations. They have been winless in their last three friendly matches. South Africa drew with Jamaica and Nicaragua, and lost to Panama.

Who Said What?

'I have never felt more emotion in my 50-year football career than playing a World Cup on home soil. I have experienced a lot, but this is unforgettable. I told the boys the same thing. I think I was able to make them understand. They feel comfortable. This is a very powerful thing. They have grown up together like a family and express it openly.'

- Javier Aguirre, Mexico Coach

'Mexico is the strongest team in the group. Therefore, tomorrow's match will be very difficult for us. I can assure you, my team is ready. We will fight for every meter and every ball for the full 90 minutes. Then we will see what happens.'

- Hugo Broos, South Africa Coach

'Of course, the expectations are very high. It will be a great game with a wonderful atmosphere. As a team, we are waiting for this game and are excited. We know how much this game means to all the people in our country.'

Mexico's Probable Starting XI

• Raul Rangel, Jesus Gallardo, Johan Vasquez, Cesar Montes, Israel Reyes, Bryan Gutierrez, Erick Lira, Alvaro Fidalgo, Julian Quinones, Roberto Alvarado, Raul Jimenez.

South Africa's Probable Starting XI

• Ronwen Williams, Khuliso Mudau, Emile Okon, Mbongeni Mbokazi, Aubrey Modiba, Teboho Mokoena, Sifiso Sithole, Thulani Ntshangase, Tsepang Moremi, Lyle Foster, Oswin Appollis.