Mexico and South Africa open expanded 2026 World Cup at Estadio Azteca
The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins with a rematch of the 2010 opener, featuring an expanded 48-team field and new security protocols across North America.
Co-hosts Mexico will face South Africa in the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on Thursday. The Group A fixture marks the commencement of the tournament’s first edition featuring 48 teams, hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The match serves as a historical rematch of the 2010 World Cup opener, which ended in a 1-1 draw between the same sides in Johannesburg.
Mexico enters the tournament as favourites, sitting 14th in the FIFA rankings compared to South Africa’s 60th position. The hosts have won three consecutive friendly matches against Ghana, Australia, and Serbia, equalling their longest unbeaten run into a World Cup. Estadio Azteca will become the first stadium to host three World Cup opening matches, having previously staged the 1986 and 1960 finals.
South Africa’s preparations were disrupted by visa issues that delayed the arrival of several team members, impacting their acclimatisation to conditions in central Mexico. The Bafana Bafana squad went winless in their last three friendlies, drawing with Jamaica and Nicaragua and losing to Panama. Coach Hugo Broos has urged his side to stick to their game plan despite the logistical setbacks and the pressure of facing a home crowd.
The expanded tournament will feature 104 games, an increase of 40 from the 2022 edition in Qatar. A new format introduces a round of 32, with the top two teams from each of the 12 groups plus the eight best third-placed teams advancing. The opening ceremony will be headlined by Shakira, with performances by J Balvin and Tyla, before the match kicks off at 1pm local time.
Security measures at the venues include the deployment of biometric and counter-drone surveillance technologies, raising discussions around civil liberties in the host nations. Full team lineups for both Mexico and South Africa have been released, with Mexico fielding a side including Raul Jimenez and Jesus Gallardo, while South Africa will be led by captain Ronwen Williams.
