Mexico vs South Africa: The World Cup 2026 Opens at the Azteca — and History Is Already Repeating Itself
Sixteen years after their famous 1-1 draw in Johannesburg, Mexico and South Africa meet again — only this time Mexico is the host. With 80,000 fans packed into the iconic Estadio Azteca, the biggest World Cup in history kicks off today. No cameras required to feel the moment. Just football.
The stage: a stadium like no other
The Estadio Azteca is hosting its 20th World Cup match — more than any other venue on the planet. It staged the 1970 final where Brazil lifted the trophy, and the 1986 final where Argentina and West Germany produced a classic. Today it hosts match number one of 104. The weight of that history is the backdrop to every pass, every tackle, every roar from the stands.
"This is the first World Cup to be co-hosted by three nations, and the first to feature 48 teams — making it the largest men's World Cup in history. It runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, across 16 cities."
Mexico: home advantage and a record to protect
Mexico has not lost a World Cup opening match since 1994, when Norway beat them in the group stage. Since then, El Tri have gone seven openers without defeat — five wins and two draws. With Javier Aguirre in his third stint as manager and the entire Azteca behind them, this is as comfortable a World Cup debut as you could hope for.
Their standout threat is centre-back César Montes, who scored three goals from corners alone at the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He is both a set-piece danger and a defensive organiser. Mexico are currently ranked 15th in the FIFA World Rankings and carry enough quality to navigate this group stage comfortably.
South Africa: the underdogs who have already defied the odds
Bafana Bafana return to the World Cup for the first time since they hosted the tournament in 2010. Their qualification story is remarkable — they topped their CAF group despite being docked three points for fielding an ineligible player. They came back, won the matches they needed, and pipped Nigeria and Benin by a single point.
Hugo Broos, 74, has his side playing structured, possession-based football. Their main attacking weapon is Oswin Appollis, who registered six goal involvements during qualification. Their warm-up form, however, has been concerning — a 0-0 with Nicaragua and a 1-1 with Jamaica — and Broos himself admitted publicly that the performance was not what he expected.
Team-by-team breakdown
- Home crowd of 80,000 at the Azteca
- Unbeaten in last 7 World Cup openers
- César Montes: 3 set-piece goals in 2025
- FIFA Ranking: 15th globally
- Javier Aguirre coaching for 3rd time
- Previously hosted WC in 1970 and 1986
- First World Cup since hosting in 2010
- Oswin Appollis: 6 goal involvements in qualifiers
- No wins in last 4 warm-up matches
- Topped CAF group despite points deduction
- Possession-based style under Hugo Broos
- Arrive in Mexico City as clear underdogs
Head-to-head history
| Year | Competition | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | FIFA World Cup Group Stage | Johannesburg, South Africa | 1 – 1 (Draw) |
| 2005 | CONCACAF Gold Cup Group Stage | vs South Africa | 2 – 1 (MEX) |
In 2010, Siphiwe Tshabalala unleashed a left-footed thunderbolt in the 55th minute to give South Africa the lead — one of the most celebrated World Cup goals ever scored. Mexico captain Rafael Márquez equalised late to seal a 1-1 draw. That match also kicked off on June 11. The date, the teams, the occasion — all of it repeating today, sixteen years on.
The opening ceremony
The 2026 World Cup launched with a simultaneous opening ceremony across all three host nations — a World Cup first. Mexico's celebration at the Azteca included Indigenous performers, folkloric acts, and the traditional art of papel picado. Artists on stage included Shakira, J Balvin, Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Los Angeles Azules, Lila Downs, and South African artist Tyla.
How to watch today's match
| Region | Channel / Platform | Kick-off Time |
|---|---|---|
| USA | FOX · Tubi (free stream) | 3:00 PM ET |
| India | Sports18 · JioCinema | 12:30 AM IST (June 12) |
| UK | Sky Sports · ITV | 8:00 PM BST |
| Global | Al Jazeera (live text) | Check local time |
What's next in Group A
Group A features Mexico, South Africa, Korea Republic, and Czechia. The second match today — Korea Republic vs Czechia — kicks off at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara at 10:00 PM ET. The top two teams from each group advance to the Round of 32. Mexico's next group game is against Korea Republic on June 18. South Africa face Czechia the same day in Atlanta.
Who do you think wins today's opener? Drop your prediction in the comments — Mexico to dominate at home, or can South Africa pull off a repeat of 2010's magic? And which World Cup 2026 match are you most excited for?