Mexico hosts South Africa in World Cup 2026 opening match

By Evelyn Mensah — 11 June 2026 — 3 min read

The World Cup 2026 commenced with co-hosts Mexico facing South Africa in a match that echoed their 2010 opening fixture. The game, held at the historic Estadio Azteca, saw Mexico take an early lead with the opening goal.

The atmosphere at the Estadio Azteca was notable, with fans and former players in attendance. Among those present were football legends Cafu, Roberto Carlos, and Roberto Baggio, observed in the stands.

Early game action and team selections

The match kicked off with Mexico showing early attacking intent. In the 5th minute, Raul Jimenez received a cross from Reyes but his shot was tipped behind by Williams. Mexico continued to press, and in the 11th minute, Quinones scored the opening goal, advancing and shooting through the goalkeeper’s legs.

South Africa, in the initial stages, appeared to focus on containing Mexico‘s attacks. Their first significant forward movement came after Mexico conceded a free-kick, though the opportunity did not lead to a goal. Mokoena received a booking in the 16th minute, followed by Gutierrez in the 23rd minute after a challenge on Mokoena.

The line-ups for the opening match featured some key selections. For Mexico, Raul Rangel started in goal over Guillermo Ochoa. The team’s attack was led by Raul Jimenez, with Gilberto Mora, the youngest player in the tournament, on the bench. South Africa‘s attack was spearheaded by Lyle Foster.

Mexico‘s starting XI included: Rangel, Montes, Vasquez, Reyes, Gallardo, Lira, Fidalgo, Alvarado, Gutierrez, Jimenez, and Quinones. Substitutes for Mexico were: Acevedo, Ochoa, Sanchez, Alvarez, Chavez, Romo, Pineda, Vargas, Mora, Chavez, Vega, Gimenez, Gonzalez, Huerta, and Martinez.

South Africa‘s starting XI featured: Williams, Modiba, Mbokazi, Sibisi, Mudau, Okon, Mokoena, Sithole, Adams, Foster, and Rayners. Their substitutes included: Chaine, Goss, Matuludi, Ndamane, Kabini, Makhanya, Sebelebele, Cross, Mbatha, Appolis, Moremi, Mofokeng, Zwane, Maseko, and Makgopa.

Match incidents and historical reflections

Throughout the first half, Mexico maintained offensive pressure. Quinones continued to be involved, winning a corner in the 13th minute. In the 20th minute, he took a shot that went over the bar. Alvarado also contributed to Mexico‘s attacks from the right wing.

A foul by Modiba on Alvarado in the 3rd minute resulted in a free-kick for Mexico, which Gutierrez took but hit the wall. Later, Gutierrez attempted to create a shooting opportunity but was blocked by Okon. The match saw a break in play, which some teams might find advantageous to regroup.

The opening match also prompted reflections on past World Cup tournaments. One observer recalled the 2010 opening match between Mexico and South Africa, noting the memorable sound of the vuvuzela. Another fan shared memories of the 1966 World Cup, highlighting the excitement and personal significance of that tournament.

Other memories shared included the 1970 Brazil team and the 1974 and 1978 Netherlands teams, often cited as great teams that did not win the World Cup. The 1982 Brazil team was also mentioned as a strong contender. Some fans recalled their first World Cup experiences, including the 1966 final and the 1982 Spain World Cup.

The match began at 20:00 BST.