Mexico opens 2026 World Cup with narrow victory over South Africa

The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially commenced on Thursday, 11 June, with the opening fixture between Mexico and South Africa held at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The match marked the beginning of the first tournament to be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, featuring an expanded field of 48 teams competing in 104 matches over a 39-day period.

Mexico secured a 1-0 victory in the opener, with Julián Quiñones scoring the tournament’s first goal just nine minutes into the match. The goal resulted from a turnover by South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, who passed to midfielder Yaya Sithole. Sithole lost possession, allowing the ball to fall to Quiñones, who then executed a strike between Williams’ legs.

Prior to conceding, Williams had successfully defended against one significant chance from the Mexican side. The early lead provided Mexico with a psychological advantage in a fixture that betting markets, including predictions from CBS Sports, had favoured. The result reversed the outcome of the 2010 World Cup group stage, where South Africa had previously defeated Mexico.

The opening match served as a rematch of that earlier encounter, setting the tone for a competition that includes a record number of participating nations. The tournament structure spans six weeks, with the expanded format allowing for more teams to compete in the global showcase.

While the specific managerial records for the current tournament remain a point of discussion, the focus of the opening day remained on the on-field performance. Mexico’s early success against South Africa established a strong foundation for their campaign in the newly structured World Cup.