From Johannesburg To Mexico City: World Cup Opens With Familiar Clash

Mexico vs South Africa: History Repeats As 2026 World Cup Kicks Off in Mexico City

The 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway tonight with Mexico hosting South Africa in the tournament’s opening match at Estadio Azteca. It’s a 16-year rematch of the 2010 opener in Johannesburg, which finished 1-1 – and the first time FIFA has ever repeated a World Cup opening fixture.

Mexico make history as the first nation to host the men’s World Cup three times, and the first to open it three times. Co-hosts El Tri are unbeaten in their last seven World Cup openers and reached the quarterfinals on home soil in both 1970 and 1986.

Mexico Manager Javier Aguirre- Courtesy Photo

Manager Javier Aguirre returns for a third World Cup with Mexico, this time with a squad blending experience and youth: Guillermo Ochoa is set for a record sixth World Cup, captain Edson Álvarez arrives fresh off Gold Cup Best Player honors, Raúl Jiménez leads the attack after topping the Nations League Finals scoring charts, and 17-year-old Gilberto Mora becomes the tournament’s youngest player.

South Africa, Bafana Bafana, return to the World Cup for the first time since 2010 and for only the fourth time overall.

They booked their place by winning CAF Group C, sealed by a 3-0 home win over Rwanda on the final day. They’ve never advanced past the group stage.

Did you know?

• Estadio Azteca hosts its 20th World Cup match, more than any stadium ever. Mexico are unbeaten in 7 World Cup games there.
• The 2010 Mexico-South Africa draw was the last World Cup opener to end level.
• South Africa’s Oswin Appollis had 6 direct goal involvements in qualifying, double anyone else on the team.
• Mexico’s César Montes scored 3 goals at the 2025 Gold Cup, all from corners.

Kickoff is at 10:00 pm today in Mexico City as the expanded 2026 World Cup officially begins.

With another tightly contested battle expected at Estadio Azteca, South Africa coach Hugo Broos knows his side face a real test:

“For us it will be a very tough game. We need to be at our best level, and we also need a little bit of luck. But I can assure you that my team is ready and we will fight for every ball during the 90 minutes. After that, we will see what the result is,” said Broos.

Bafana Bafana Head Coach Hugo Bruce – Photo Courtesy

Mexico have a poor record on World Cup opening day – 5 losses and 2 draws in 7 previous openers – and coach Javier Aguirre wants to “break that trend” as El Tri host South Africa tonight at Estadio Azteca.

Aguirre, in his third stint as Mexico manager, said he didn’t know about the winless streak but will use it to motivate the team. Mexico enter in strong form with a 7-game unbeaten run and last lost in November to Paraguay.

Courtesy Photo

Today’s match is a rematch of the 2010 opener, which finished 1-1 in Johannesburg. Aguirre, who played for Mexico at the 1986 home World Cup when they reached the quarterfinals, called it a chance for “a celebration that endures for decades” and urged the squad to “get off on the right foot” in what may be their only home World Cup.