The long-awaited kickoff of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has finally arrived. Almost eight years after Canada, Mexico and the United States were chosen as hosts, the record 48-team tournament begins this Thursday, June 11, with hosts Mexico taking on South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
The confrontation carries symbolic weight. The two teams already met in the opening of the 2010 World Cup, in South Africa, when the home team drew 1-1 with Siphiwe Tshabalala’s spectacular goal and Rafael Márquez’s equalizer. Now, the roles are reversed: Mexico plays at home and carries the pressure of an entire country.
Mexico seeks strong start at home
El Tri, currently ranked among the 15 best teams in the world, arrives undefeated in their last five games and has names like Raúl Jiménez and Santiago Giménez in attack. The fans flock to the iconic Azteca in anticipation of a good result in Group A. Coach Javier Aguirre, who will have Márquez as an assistant, knows the importance of starting by scoring to alleviate the pressure in the expanded tournament.
On the other hand, Hugo Broos’ South Africa, ranked first in Group C of the African qualifiers, is betting on the speed of Lyle Foster and the creativity of Teboho Mokoena. Left-back Aubrey Modiba is expected to be available after recovering from a muscle injury. Bafana Bafana dreams of a surprise against the home owner.
Guadalajara hosts duel between Asia and Europe
Later, at 8pm (local time), the focus turns to the Guadalajara Stadium, where South Korea and Czechia debut in the same group. It is a meeting between representatives from Asia and Europe. South Korea is competing in its 11th consecutive World Cup, while Czechia returns to the tournament after an absence since 2006, driven by a place in the UEFA playoffs.
Group A promises balance in the first rounds. Mexico and South Africa open the proceedings, and the result will directly influence the direction of the teams towards the round of 16. The tournament, the largest in history with 104 games, is spread across three countries and is expected to break attendance and audience records.
What changes in practice
For Mexico, winning in the debut is not just a good start, it is a way of transforming national excitement into fuel to go far. The repetition of the 2010 duel brings nostalgia, but also lessons: the draw 16 years ago showed that, on World Cup day, no opponent is simple.
Where to watch live:The matches will be broadcast on TV Globo, SporTV and streaming platforms with rights in Brazil. Also follow official FIFA broadcasts.