Tonight, at 22:00, the opening match of the World Football Championship, the most prestigious competition of the king's sport, will take place. Face to face, at the Estadio Azteca in the capital Ciudad de México, will be the representatives of Mexico and South Africa, a re-edition of the duel that inaugurated the 2010 edition.
The wait is over! Only a few hours separate us from the first match of the biggest edition of the World Championship, the first with 48 participants. Three countries, the USA, Mexico and Canada, will host the competition's 104 matches.
The first of them will take place in Mexico, in the capital city of Ciudad de México, and will put the representatives who also faced each other in the opening of the 2010 edition, then in a 1-1. On this occasion, Estadio Azteca will become the first stadium to host the opening of the World Cup in 3 rows, after the 1970 and 1986 editions.
UPDATE 18:00 » Thousands of people are heading to the stadium
4 hours before the start, thousands of people head to the stadium. The area is closed around the arena for a kilometer away, only ticket holders and those who live in the area have access.
The fiesta started around the stadium. The world sings and dances, celebrating the return of the World Cup to Mexico.
LIVE 22:00 » Mexico – South Africa, the opening match of the 2026 World Cup
Mexico and South Africa are in Group A, along with South Korea and the Czech Republic. The other group match in this first round kicks off 7 hours later on June 12 at 05:00.
The Mexican national team starts as a big favorite today. They have the pitch on their side, a bigger crowd and a higher place in the FIFA rankings, 14th, compared to 60th for the South Africans.
In fact, the training matches went well for “El Tricolor”: consecutive victories against Ghana (2-0), Australia (1-0) and Serbia (5-1). On the other hand, South Africa drew both games played in anticipation of the final tournament, 0-0 with Nicaragua and 1-1 with Jamaica.
Mexico v South Africa, likely teams:
Mexico (4-3-3): Raul Rangel – Israel Reyes, Cesar Montes, Johan Vasquez, Jesus Gallardo – Fidalgo, Erik Lira, Brian Gutierrez – Roberto Alvarado, Raul Jimenez, Julian Quinones
Reserves: Acevedo, Ochoa, Gonzalez, Chavez, J. Sanchez, O. Vargas, Huerta, Pineda, E. Vega, Mora, G. Martinez, Romo, E. Alvarez, S. Gimenez, Chavez
Selector: Javier Aguirre
6is the number of editions of the World Championship to which the Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa was summoned!
South Africa (4-2-3-1): Ronwen Williams – Khuliso Mudau, Ime Okon, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Aubrey Modiba – Teboho Mokoena, Jayden Adams – Oswin Appollis, Themba Zwane, Relebohile Mofokeng – Lyle Foster
Reserves: Chaine, Goss, Ndamane, Sebelebele, Cross, Moremi, Maseko, Mbatha, Makgopa, Matuludi, Makhanya, Kabini, Sithole, Rayners, Sibisi
Selector: Hugo Broos
Referee: Wilton Sampaio (Brazil)
Assistants: Bruno Pires and Bruno Boschilia (Brazil)
VAR Referee: Nicolas Gallo (Colombia)
Assistant VAR: Juan Lara (Chile)
Shakira and Burna Boy sing in the opening
The fans present at the Estadio Azteca and the viewers will be treated to a spectacular show. The event will start 90 minutes before the starting whistle of the match, and sonorous names will take the stage.
FIFA invited Shakira and Burna Boy, who will sing the anthem of the competition (Dai Dai), Alejandro Fernandez, who will sing the anthem of Mexico, Tyla, who will sing the anthem of South Africa, but also Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Angeles Azules, Mana, Andrea Bocelli, David Guetta, Megan Thee Stallion and EJAE. In addition, Salma Hayek will be present as a FIFA ambassador.
Two more opening ceremonies in the US and Canada
As this edition of the World Cup will take place in 3 countries, FIFA organized three different opening ceremonies, with different participants and themes, in the spirit of each of the hosts.
These will take place before the first match in each of the 3 host countries. Alanis Morissette, Michael Bublé and Alessia Cara will take over the stage in Toronto on Friday night ahead of Canada's game against Bosnia and Herzegovina, while the stadium will be dominated by a giant mosaic replica of the World Cup goddess.
On the same day, Los Angeles will be engulfed in Hollywood glamor before the match between the USA and Paraguay, where Katy Perry, Lisa, Future, Anitta and Rema will perform in front of the archipelago stands!
What the selectors said before Mexico v South Africa
I haven't experienced a greater emotion in my 50 years in football than a World Cup played at home. It is something unforgettable. I remember the confidence with which I walked onto the pitch against Belgium in 1986.
I want to convey to the players that it can be a big day for us, a celebration that will be remembered for decades. The fact that Mexico have never won their debut game gives us an extra reason to win. We will put an end to this statistic.
– Javier Aguirre, Mexico coach
Mexicans play good football. They have very valuable players, capable of deciding a match. And the fact that they will play in front of 85,000 fans gives them a plus. But we prepared for this.
We know what to expect and are ready to fight for every ball. It is probably the most important match in the group. Thursday's result can decisively influence our chances of qualification.
– Hugo Broos, South Africa coach
We recommend the following correspondence:
