The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins on Thursday night with co-hosts Mexico taking on South Africa in the opening match of Group A at the iconic Estadio Azteca. The encounter marks the start of a historic tournament featuring 48 teams and 104 matches, while also revisiting a fixture that opened the 2010 World Cup when South Africa and Mexico played out a memorable 1-1 draw in Johannesburg.
Mexico enter the tournament carrying the expectations of a passionate home crowd after becoming the first nation to host the men’s World Cup on three occasions, having previously staged the competition in 1970 and 1986.
Head coach Javier Aguirre is preparing for his third World Cup as Mexico manager and is determined to guide El Tri beyond the disappointment of their 2022 campaign, when they failed to reach the knockout stage for the first time in over four decades. After a difficult end to 2025, Mexico have rediscovered momentum this year, recording impressive results against strong opposition before putting together victories over Ghana, Australia and Serbia, including a commanding 5-1 win in their final warm-up match.
South Africa return to football’s biggest stage for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2010. Under the guidance of Hugo Broos, Bafana Bafana secured qualification after a dramatic CAF campaign and arrive in North America eager to make an impact despite being viewed as outsiders.
Victories over Zimbabwe and Angola boosted confidence, while a 1-1 draw against Jamaica served as their final preparation before the tournament. The team’s official X channel have also helped fuel excitement among supporters, with fans expressing growing belief ahead of their long-awaited World Cup return.
Team News
Mexico face a major goalkeeping decision, with veteran Guillermo Ochoa hoping to feature in his sixth World Cup, although Raul Rangel is pushing strongly for the starting spot. Captain Edson Alvarez is expected to marshal the defence, while teenage sensation Gilberto Mora is competing for a place in midfield. Up front, Raul Jimenez and Julian Quinones are expected to lead the attack.
South Africa could welcome back Aubrey Modiba after injury, while Teboho Mokoena is set to anchor the midfield. In attack, Oswin Appollis and Lyle Foster will carry much of the team’s attacking threat.
Possible Lineups
Mexico possible starting lineup:
Ochoa; Sanchez, Montes, Alvarez, Gallardo; Gutierrez, Fidalgo, Pineda; Alvarado, Jimenez, Quinones
South Africa possible starting lineup:
Williams; Mudau, Mbokazi, Okon, Modiba; Mbatha, Sithole, Mokoena; Appollis, Foster, Moremi
How to Watch
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| TV Broadcast | SuperSport |
| Live Stream | DSTVStream App |
| Kick-off Time | 20:00 (WAT) |
Match Prediction
Softfootball predicts Mexico 2-1 South Africa
Mexico’s experience, home advantage and recent improvement in form make them favourites heading into the tournament opener. South Africa have shown resilience under Broos and possess enough pace to threaten on the counterattack, but the atmosphere inside a packed Azteca could prove decisive.
