For the third time, the Azteca Stadium will host the opening match of the World Cup, and the 2010 matchup will be repeated
WRITTEN BY: VÍCTOR QUINTO FERNÁNDEZ
And the wait is over. The Mexican national team will face South Africa today, Thursday, June 11, at 3:00 p.m. at Azteca Stadium in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup. The colossus in Santa Úrsula will become the only venue on Earth to host the opening match of three World Cups.
Once again, after four years, time stands still; the wait is over, and the passion and excitement in millions of hearts have reached their peak. The return of the biggest tournament in the world opens its doors and reminds us why we love this beautiful sport. Let the ball start rolling and let the world’s biggest celebration begin once again!
Both teams, along with South Korea and the Czech Republic, make up Group A and are coming into the tournament under different circumstances. The Aztecs will be making their 18th World Cup appearance and have the responsibility of kicking off the tournament in front of their home crowd. The team coached by Javier Aguirre, which won the Nations League and the Gold Cup in 2025, will look to improve on their performance at Qatar 2022, where they failed to advance past the group stage.
Made up of a new generation of players, their key figures include Guillermo “El Memo” Ochoa, Edson Álvarez, and their top offensive threat, Santiago Giménez of AC Milan, who stands out for his finishing ability, mobility inside the box, and goal-scoring instinct. Individual skill and World Cup experience will be crucial in defeating the African team.
For its part, South Africa will be making its fourth World Cup appearance. The team is returning to the World Cup after sixteen years; it finished third in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and was eliminated in the round of 16 in the 2025 edition. The “Bafana Bafana” finished first in Group C, eliminating Nigeria, and are looking to pull off an upset at the World Cup.
Hugo Broos’s squad is made up mostly of players from the local league, with no stars from the world’s top leagues. The team’s key players are goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, midfielder Shephelo Sithole of Tondela, and forward Lyle Foster, who plays for Burnley. The team’s strengths include good team play, physical fitness, tactical discipline, aerial play on the wings, and speed. Among its weaknesses are poor finishing and a lack of international experience—which Mexico could exploit.
The French writer Albert Camus said: “The entire nation fits into ninety minutes. On the field, you learn true brotherhood, sharing the fine line between glory and failure.” Let’s hope that this World Cup celebration not only brings joy to our hearts but also fosters compassion, empathy, humility, and resilience off the field.
Below are the starting lineups that Mexico and South Africa will field at the kickoff of the World Cup:
MEXICO: Raúl Rangel; Jesús Gallardo, Johan Vásquez, César Montes, Israel Reyes; Brian Gutiérrez, Erik Lira, Álvaro Fidalgo; Julián Quiñones, Roberto Alvarado, and Raúl Jiménez. Head Coach: Javier Aguirre.
SOUTH AFRICA: Ronwen Williams; Khuliso Mudau, Ime Okon, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Aubrey Modiba; Teboho Mokoena, Sphephelo Sithole, Thalente Mbatha; Tshepang Moremi, Lyle Foster, and Oswin Appollis. Head Coach: Hugo Broos.
