MEXICO CITY – The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off this Thursday, with Mexico hosting South Africa in the opening match of the world’s biggest football tournament. The match is scheduled to take place at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City at 21:00 Rwanda time and will officially launch the first World Cup to feature 48 teams.
It is a match with special historical significance, as Mexico and South Africa also faced each other in the opening match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup held in South Africa. On that occasion, the two teams played out a 1-1 draw in a game remembered for Siphiwe Tshabalala’s goal, which opened the tournament.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by three countries: Mexico, the United States, and Canada. It is the first time in history that the tournament has been jointly hosted by three nations, and it will feature 104 matches before the final scheduled for July 19, 2026.
Representing Africa at the tournament are 10 nations: South Africa, Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Nigeria, Algeria, Tunisia, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, and Cape Verde.
South Africa head coach Hugo Broos said his team is prepared to handle the pressure of facing the host nation in front of a large crowd, expressing confidence in making a positive start to their World Cup campaign.
Football fans around the world will be closely watching the tournament’s opening match, as Mexico seeks its first-ever victory in a World Cup opener, while South Africa aims to once again prove its ability to cause an upset, as it did in 2010.
