Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published Friday, 05 December 2025, 23:36 / Updated Friday, 05 December 2025 23:47
The draw for the 2026 World Cup has brought a rare and spectacular situation: the opening match will be Mexico – South Africa, exactly the same confrontation that opened the 2010 World Cup. Moreover, the game will take place on June 11, the same date on which the duel was played 16 years ago.
On June 11, 2010, in an atmosphere dominated by the supporters of the host country, South Africa – Mexico 1-1 inaugurated the World Championship hosted by Africans. The goals were scored by Tshabalala and Marquez respectively.
History repeats itself after 16 years
In 2026, the premiere of the tournament also takes place on June 11, and the opponents are identical. This time, the match will be played at the “Estadio Azteca”, the stadium that hosted the World Championship finals in 1970 and 1986.
The Mexico – South Africa match thus becomes the first re-editing in the history of an opening match at a World Cup.
The 2010 clash was the last between Mexico and South Africa. Since then, their paths have not crossed in any competition. FIFA will announce the full fixture list on December 6, but the opening match has already been set.
Mexico, a negative past in debut matches
The statistics do not paint a favorable picture for the national team of Mexico: in the seven inaugural matches played throughout history, the Mexicans have suffered five defeats and obtained only two draws, with a harsh record – 19 goals conceded and only two scored.
The opponents met in these debuts were: France, Brazil, Sweden and the USSR. The only positive exception remains the Mexico 1970 edition, when the hosts drew 0-0 with the USSR.
Mexico will mark the 8th opening game in history
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1930: 1-4 with France – the first match in WC history
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1950: 0-4 with Brazil
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1954: 0-5 with Brazil
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1958: 0-3 with Sweden
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1962: simultaneous inaugural matches – also unsuccessful
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1970: 0-0 with USSR
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2010: 1-1 with South Africa
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2026: South Africa
