Lineups Announced for the 2026 World Cup Opener

Watch the report by Idan Quwler, Walla Sports correspondent to the World Cup, and the Walla editorial staff. After months of preparation, analysis and eager anticipation, the 2026 World Cup kicks off tonight (Thursday, 22:00, Sport1) with the opening match between Mexico, one of the tournament’s three hosts, and South Africa in Group A. Estadio Azteca in Mexico City is the first stadium ever to host three different World Cup opening matches, and these two teams themselves opened a previous tournament, only in the opposite situation: South Africa hosted the start of the 2010 World Cup and drew 1-1 with Mexico, which ultimately advanced from Group A at their expense on goal difference.

Javier Aguirre, who also coached El Tri then and had done so before that at the 2002 World Cup, wants to preserve Mexico’s unbeaten record in opening matches, five wins and two draws. He has started Raul Jimenez up front, hoping to beat Hugo Broos again, after defeating him as a player at the 1986 World Cup. The 74-year-old Belgian coach of South Africa is aware of his team’s problems in attack and is banking on Burnley’s Lyle Foster. Relebohile Mofokeng, who was linked with Maccabi Tel Aviv last summer, is waiting on the bench.

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