The 2026 World Cup begins this Thursday (11) with the clash between Mexico and South Africa, at the iconic Azteca Stadium, in Mexico City. Kick-off is scheduled for4pm(Brasília time), with an opening ceremony full of artistic attractions scheduled for 2:30 pm in the same location.
Mexico, which will host the tournament for the third time in history — a record — enters the field with the support of the local fans and a history of good campaigns when acting as hosts. South Africa is looking to surprise at a time of reconstruction.
Mexico seeks to repeat success at home
Mexico arrives at the World Cup with high morale after a positive sequence of results in recent friendlies. The team led by Javier Aguirre accumulates consistent victories and counts on the home advantage as a great ally. In the 1970 and 1986 editions, also hosted in the country, the Mexicans reached the quarterfinals, which represents the team’s best performance to date.
The Azteca Stadium, the historic stage for landmark moments such as the 1970 final and Maradona’s “Goal of the Century” in 1986, once again hosts the kick-off of a World Cup. With a capacity for more than 80,000 fans, the stadium should have an electrifying atmosphere from the opening ceremony onwards.
South Africa tries to break taboo
On the other hand, the South African team is going through a complicated phase. In 2026, the team has not yet won and has drawn and lost in preparatory matches. Bafana Bafana, as they are known, have never progressed beyond the group stage in their previous appearances, including when they hosted the tournament in 2010.
Interestingly, today’s game repeats the opening match of the 2010 World Cup, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Coach Hugo Broos is betting on a young and disciplined team to try to score against the home team.
Group A and other games of the day
In addition to Mexico and South Africa, Group A includes South Korea and Czechia, who will face each other later, at 11pm (Brasília time). The group is considered balanced, and the fight for a place in the round of 16 promises to be fierce throughout the first phase.
The expanded format of the 2026 World Cup, with 48 teams, increases the chances of surprises and requires consistency from the beginning.
Where to watch the opening of the 2026 World Cup
The transmission to Brazil will be wide:
- open TV: Globo and SBT
- Closed TV: SporTV and N Sports
- Streaming: ge.tv (Globoplay), CazéTV (YouTube, Prime Video and Disney+)
Coverage should include details of the opening ceremony, with musical performances and cultural celebrations that mark the start of world football’s biggest event.
Probable lineups
Mexico(coach Javier Aguirre): Raúl Rangel; Jorge Sánchez, César Montes, Johan Vásquez, Jesús Gallardo; Erik Lira, Álvaro Fidalgo, Brian Gutiérrez; Roberto Alvarado, Raúl Jiménez, Julián Quiñones.
South Africa(coach Hugo Broos): Ricardo Goss; Tholo Matuludi, Ime Okon, Olwethu Makhanya, Samukele Kabini; Yaya Sithole, Thalente Mbatha, Themba Zwane; Kamogelo Sebelebele, Tshepang Moremi, Lyle Foster.
Lineups may undergo last-minute adjustments, especially considering the strain of travel and the heat expected in Mexico City.
Brazilian arbitration
Brazilian Wilton Pereira Sampaio was chosen to referee the opening game. Assistants Bruno Pires and Bruno Boschilia are also from Brazil, with Nicolás Gallo (Colombia) in VAR. The choice reflects FIFA’s confidence in Brazilian refereeing for the most important moment of the debut.
Why this game matters
In addition to opening the tournament, the match sets the tone for the competition for Mexico, who are dreaming of a historic performance at home, and tests South Africa’s resilience in a hostile environment. The result can directly influence the leadership of Group A and the morale of both teams for the next challenges.
The 2026 World Cup promises to be the biggest ever, with more games, teams and global expectations. The opening at Azteca represents the return of football to its most emblematic stage.
