Mexico host South Africa as World Cup 2026 kicks off at the Azteca

The 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, where co-hosts Mexico face South Africa in Group A — a rematch of the tournament’s famous 2010 opener, when Siphiwe Tshabalala’s strike helped the Bafana Bafana to a memorable victory on home soil.

The expanded 48-team format means 104 games will be played across the United States, Canada, and Mexico before a new world champion is crowned. Three official opening ceremonies are scheduled to mark the occasion, with Shakira, Burna Boy, and Salma Hayek among the performers set to open proceedings in Mexico City.

Javier Aguirre, who also managed El Tri at that 2010 edition, returns to the dugout as Mexico look to improve on their group-stage exit at Qatar 2022. South Africa arrive as the tournament’s symbolic link to that opening chapter, and the Azteca setting adds another layer of history to the occasion.

Attention then shifts north to Guadalajara, where South Korea take on the Czech Republic in what could prove a decisive early Group A encounter. Son Heung-min leads the Taegeuk Warriors and brings familiarity with North American football after joining MLS club LAFC last summer.

The Czechs are making their first World Cup appearance in 20 years, having last featured in 2006, when they were eliminated in the group stage. Miroslav Koubek’s side will be eager to make an immediate impact after the long wait to return to the global stage.

With the best-performing third-place teams in each group advancing to the Round of 32 under the new format, both matches carry added significance — a slow start could prove costly even at this early stage.