“Finally”, the 2026 World Cup is underway! After a huge build-up and expectations, it is ready for action when the host nation Mexico opens the biggest championship ever against South Africa in Mexico City.
The opening match in Group A means that coach Javier Aguirre leads Mexico in a World Cup for the third time – after the 2002 and 2010 championships.
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The hosts reached the quarter-finals in both 1970 and 1986, when the championship was also played in Mexico. Now they are aiming for another deep tournament march.
“I’m neither nervous nor worried – I’m genuinely excited,” says Aguirre.
“I’m one of the lucky ones, really lucky. We are in our best physical, athletic, and mental shape. The players are very excited. None of them have experienced anything like this before. We are all looking forward to the moment coming.
“Let’s hope that the game will be good and live up to the occasion. That’s what I say to my players: playing at home is priceless. England became champions on home soil – and never again.
“I have great faith that the fans will cheer us on, help us, and that the whole country will support us.
South Africa are back in the World Cup for the first time since they hosted in 2010. The two teams also met in the opening match 16 years ago – that time it ended 1-1 in Johannesburg.
Team news ahead of Mexico – South Africa
Mexico will link the scoring chance to Raúl Jiménez – who has just signed for his second spell at Wolverhampton after leaving Fulham.
The 35-year-old has 45 goals in 124 caps and is third on Mexico’s all-time top scorer list.
In second place, goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa can start in his sixth World Cup, while captain Edson Álvarez is ready for his 99th cap.
South Africa have many players from their domestic leagues, while Burnley striker Lyle Foster is expected to lead the attack.
Predicted line-ups
Mexico: Ochoa; Sánchez, Montes, Álvarez, Gallardo; Gutiérrez, Fidalgo, Pineda; Alvarado, Jiménez, Quiñones
South Africa: Williams; Mudau, Mbokazi, Okon, Modiba; Mbatha, Sithole, Mokoena; Appollis, Foster, Moremi
Pre-match stats
- Mexico are unbeaten in their last seven opening matches at the World Cup – with five wins and two draws. The last time they lost an opening match was in 1994, when they were beaten 1-0 by Norway.
- None of South Africa’s nine World Cup matches have ended goalless. Their two victories in the championship came against Slovenia in 2002 and France in 2010. The win against Slovenia is also their only clean sheet in World Cup history (1-0).
- Coach Javier Aguirre himself played for Mexico in the 1986 World Cup. He started all five games and assisted Manuel Negrete’s famous volley against Bulgaria – before being sent off in the quarter-finals against West Germany.
Anticipation
Home advantage, a boiling stadium and a better team – everything points to an opening win for the host nation. Let’s let the ball speak for itself!
Tips: Mexico 3–1 South Africa
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