Mexico defeats South Africa in 2026 FIFA World Cup opener

The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially commenced on 11 June 2026 with the opening match between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Mexico secured an early lead in the fixture, which served as a rematch of the 2010 World Cup final. The tournament features an expanded field of 48 teams and 104 matches over a 39-day period, concluding on 19 July 2026.

This event marks the first World Cup jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The expanded format sees the tournament run for six weeks, with the final scheduled to take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Exclusive English-language broadcast rights in the United States are held by FOX and FS1, with coverage available via the FOX One and FOX Sports applications.

Betting markets for the opening match were available through FanDuel, with CBS Sports predicting a 2-1 victory for Mexico. The match served as a rematch of the 2010 World Cup final, where South Africa defeated Mexico in the group stage. The fixture served as a rematch of the 2010 World Cup final, marking the start of the tournament which features 104 matches over six weeks.

The tournament structure involves a total of 104 matches scheduled across the three host nations. The first half-time show in FIFA World Cup history will be curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin and will take place on 19 July at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, featuring Madonna, Shakira, and BTS.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced the intention to hold a half-time show at the World Cup final in March of the previous year. The performance will mark the first half-time show in FIFA World Cup history, with the final taking place on 19 July 2026. The tournament concludes on 19 July 2026, with the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.