Mexico and South Africa to Open World Cup 2026: A Repeat of the 2010 Kickoff. The FIFA World Cup has kicked off in Mexico City. Mexico and South Africa meet again in the tournament’s first match. Expectations, lineups, and ceremony highlights — in our report.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has kicked off in Mexico City: Mexico and South Africa took the field at Azteca Stadium. This match is a repeat of the 2010 World Cup opener, which ended in a 1-1 draw. This time, the anticipation is driven not only by sporting intrigue, but also by Mexico’s status as host nation and South Africa’s return to the global stage after a long hiatus.
The tournament opened with a performance by Shakira, who sang the official anthem 'Dai Dai.' The stadium in Mexico City was packed with fans from both countries, evoking the best moments of past World Cups. The match was scheduled for 20:00 local time, with not only the spectators in the stands but millions more watching worldwide — the BBC is providing live coverage and comprehensive statistics.
South Africa, known as Bafana Bafana, is once again opening the World Cup, just as it did 16 years ago. For the team, this is their first appearance in the tournament since 2010. Despite qualifying successfully, South Africa faces challenges: adapting tactics and a lack of experience playing outside Africa. Head coach Hugo Broos, the 74-year-old Belgian, has announced he will step down after this tournament.
Mexico approached the opener as prepared as possible: under Javier Aguirre, the team played 22 matches over the past year, which helped establish the starting lineup and refine tactical schemes. The starting roster features goalkeeper R. Rangel and other key players. For South Africa, the captain's armband went to R. Williams.
Azteca Stadium is a venue with a unique history: legendary matches have been played here, including Maradona's famous 'Hand of God' goal in 1986. The organizers focused on security and logistics to prevent disruptions amid an influx of guests. As russpain.com notes, interest in the tournament in Spain has traditionally been high, and the opening matches draw particular attention, especially given the national team's preparations for their own games, as was recently reported in the article about fan zones in Madrid.
The refereeing team is headed by Wilton Pereira Sampaio, with VAR oversight by Nicolás Gallo Barragán. Historically, Mexico and South Africa have met three times: each team has one win and there has been one draw, including their opening match at the 2010 World Cup. Now, the teams once again open the tournament, and the result of this match will set the tone for the entire championship.
For reference: the 2026 World Cup is being held for the first time in three countries simultaneously — Mexico, the USA, and Canada. Forty-eight national teams are participating, and the total number of matches has been increased to 104. Azteca Stadium is the only venue to have hosted three World Cup opening ceremonies. In Spain, interest in the tournament is traditionally high, especially amid the national team's performances and the growing number of Spanish fans traveling across North America.
