Mexico hosts South Africa in FIFA World Cup opener

Mexico will make history as it becomes the first nation to host the men’s World Cup three times

MEXICO CITY – The FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off with Mexico hosting South Africa in Group A for the tournament’s opening match on Thursday at Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City, Mexico.

The matchup is a rematch of the 2010 FIFA World Cup opener in South Africa, played exactly 16 years after the two sides drew 1-1 in Johannesburg. It marks the first time a World Cup opening fixture has ever been repeated among the tournament’s previous single-match openers.

Mexico will participate in its 18th FIFA World Cup and will make history as it becomes the first nation to host the men’s World Cup three times. It will also become the first nation to host the tournament’s opening match on three occasions. The nation’s best World Cup performances also came on home soil, reaching the quarterfinals in both 1970 and 1986.

The 2026 co-hosts will also look to continue their strong record in World Cup openers, having gone unbeaten in their last seven opening matches with five wins and two draws.

Manager Javier Aguirre, who is leading Mexico for a third World Cup after stints in 2002 and 2010, has selected an experienced squad. Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa is set to appear in a historic sixth World Cup, while captain Edson Álvarez arrives after winning Best Player honors at the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup. Raúl Jiménez, the top scorer at the 2025 Concacaf Nations League Finals, also headlines the roster. The reigning Gold Cup champions additionally include 17-year-old Gilberto Mora, who enters his first World Cup as the tournament’s youngest player.

South Africa will make its fourth FIFA World Cup appearance and its first since hosting the tournament in 2010. The Bafana Bafana secured qualification for this World Cup by winning Group C of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) qualifiers, clinching the top spot in the group on the final matchday with a pivotal 3-nil win at home against Rwanda.

Mexico vs South Africa – Facts

• Mexico and South Africa will meet in a FIFA World Cup opening match once again, exactly 16 years after their 1-1 draw in Johannesburg on June 11, 2010. It will be the first time in tournament history that an opening fixture has been repeated from any of the previous 19 single-match World Cup openers.
• Estadio Azteca will host its 20th FIFA World Cup match, more than any other stadium in the history of the competition. Mexico remain unbeaten in their seven World Cup matches at the iconic Mexico City venue, recording five wins and two draws.
• The 1-1 draw between Mexico and South Africa in 2010 was the last time a FIFA World Cup opening match ended level. Furthermore, the two previous World Cup openers held at Estadio Azteca also finished in draws: Mexico 0-0 Soviet Union in 1970 and Italy 1-1 Bulgaria in 1986.
• Mexico are unbeaten in their last seven FIFA World Cup opening matches, posting five victories and two draws. Their most recent opening-match defeat came in 1994, when they suffered a 1-0 loss against Norway.
• The 2026 edition marks Mexico’s 18th FIFA World Cup appearance, the most of any Concacaf nation. Their best results came while hosting the tournament in 1970 and 1986, reaching the quarterfinals on both occasions. Mexico also hold the record for the most World Cup matches played without ever winning the tournament, with 60 appearances.
• South Africa are making their fourth FIFA World Cup appearance and their first outside home soil since the 2002 tournament. Bafana Bafana have yet to advance beyond the group stage. This will also be South Africa’s second World Cup match against a host nation, following a 3-0 defeat to France in 1998.
• None of South Africa’s nine FIFA World Cup matches have ended goalless. Their two victories in the competition came against Slovenia in 2002 and France in 2010. The 1-0 win over Slovenia also remains the nation’s only World Cup clean sheet.
• South Africa finished top of their CAF qualifying group for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, one point ahead of Nigeria. Excluding a 3-0 forfeited defeat against Lesotho for fielding an ineligible player, Bafana Bafana trailed in only one qualifier: a 2-0 away loss to Rwanda in November 2023.
• Only Panama’s Ismael Díaz (6) scored more goals at the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup than Mexico’s César Montes (3), with all three of Montes’ goals coming from corner kicks. The defender also recorded the second-most interceptions (10) and the second-best aerial duel success rate (75%) in the tournament.
• Oswin Appollis was directly involved in twice as many goals as any other South African player during qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He contributed two goals and four assists, totaling six direct goal involvements.
• Javier Aguirre will lead Mexico at a FIFA World Cup for the third time, having previously managed El Tri in 2002 and 2010. Among the head coaches at the 2026 tournament, only Didier Deschamps has managed more World Cups with the same national team. As a player, Aguirre represented Mexico at the 1986 FIFA World Cup, starting all five matches and providing the assist for Manuel Negrete’s iconic volley against Bulgaria before being sent off in the quarterfinal against West Germany.