The wait is finally over. After years of anticipation, the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off tonight at 10 pm, with hosts Mexico taking on South Africa at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
In a fitting twist of history, the tournament opener will see Mexico and South Africa face off once again exactly 16 years after they launched the 2010 World Cup in Johannesburg, a match that featured Siphiwe Tshabalala’s stunning left-footed strike and ended in a memorable 1-1 draw.
Tonight’s match also marks the first time in FIFA World Cup history that an opening fixture has been repeated from a previous edition.
For Mexico, tonight represents the beginning of another quest to finally capture football’s greatest prize.
Despite holding the unwanted record for the most World Cup matches played without winning the tournament, El Tri enter the competition as favourites to top Group A and carry strong momentum into the opening match.
Javier Aguirre’s side have not lost any of their last seven World Cup opening matches, winning five and drawing two since 1994.
Their recent form has been equally impressive, winning six of their last eight outings while remaining unbeaten throughout that stretch.
Mexico’s defensive solidity has been particularly notable, with six clean sheets recorded and just a handful of goals conceded during that run.
The hosts head into the tournament on the back of a convincing 5-1 victory over Serbia in their final warm-up match, a result that further raised expectations among the passionate home supporters expected to pack the famous Azteca Stadium.
Mexico also boast a formidable record at the venue in World Cup competition. Across seven previous World Cup matches played at the Azteca, they remain unbeaten with five wins and two draws.
The stadium itself carries enormous historical significance, having hosted some of football’s most iconic moments, including Diego Maradona’s legendary “Hand of God” goal during the 1986 World Cup.
Standing in Mexico’s way are a determined South African side eager to make history of their own.
Making their fourth World Cup appearance and first since hosting the tournament in 2010, Bafana Bafana arrive with ambitions of reaching the knockout rounds for the first time ever.
However, Hugo Broos’ men have endured a mixed build-up to the tournament. South Africa are without a win in their last five matches, drawing three and losing two. Their latest outing ended in a 1-1 draw against Jamaica.
Despite that dip in form, South Africa’s qualification campaign offered plenty of encouragement.
They topped their qualifying group ahead of Nigeria and trailed in only one of their ten qualification matches, highlighting the defensive resilience that helped secure their return to the global stage.
History slightly favours Mexico in this fixture. El Tri won the first two meetings between the nations, although they are winless in their last two encounters with South Africa, drawing one and losing one.
Much attention will be on Mexican defender Johan Vásquez, who arrives in excellent goalscoring form after finding the net three times in his last three appearances for club and country.
For South Africa, Oswin Appollis remains the chief attacking threat after contributing six goals during qualification, scoring twice and providing four assists.
With both teams reporting no fresh injury concerns following their final warm-up matches, all eyes now turn to a historic opening night in Mexico City.
