Mexico vs South Africa.

Match preview

The 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway at the most storied venue in the tournament's history, with Mexico hosting South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City in what is Match 1 of the entire competition - making this already a fixture carrying extraordinary symbolic weight before a ball has even been kicked. The Azteca becomes the first stadium in history to host matches at three separate World Cups, having staged the finals in both 1970 and 1986, and with nearly 88,000 home fans packed inside the recently renovated stadium, El Tri will have one of the most ferocious home advantages in international football entirely at their disposal. Mexico sit 15th in the latest FIFA rankings heading into the tournament, but the pressure on Javier Aguirre's side is immense - they have not advanced past the round of 16 in seven consecutive World Cup tournaments, and a home opening fixture against a side ranked 60th in the world simply must deliver three points. The attack will be led by Raúl Jiménez, Hirving Lozano, and Edson Álvarez, and Jiménez, who has been in fine Premier League form at Fulham, is heading into his fourth World Cup and will be the focal point that South Africa's backline must contain for 90 minutes. For Bafana Bafana, this is a return to the World Cup stage after a 16-year absence - they last appeared when they hosted the tournament in 2010 - and the fixture is loaded with history: that 2010 World Cup opener between the same two nations ended 1-1 in Johannesburg, a result South Africa will draw on as proof they belong in this company. Hugo Broos, the 74-year-old Belgian coach who guided Cameroon to the 2017 AFCON title, has said this will be his last job as a manager - closing a distinguished career on the grandest stage possible. South Africa's approach will be disciplined and direct, looking to absorb Mexico's early pressure and hurt them on the counter through the pace of forwards Mofokeng and Appollis, though the altitude at 2,240 metres above sea level will test the Bafana Bafana squad - who train at sea level - as fatigue typically sets in late, making the final half hour particularly dangerous for the visitors. Mexico should ultimately have too much quality at home, but their friendly form has been underwhelming, managing just three wins from 11 matches in preparation, and South Africa have the tactical discipline and counter-attacking speed to make this a deeply uncomfortable afternoon if El Tri do not come out sharp. Bet Right