World Cup 2026 Gets Underway as the Biggest Tournament in History Opens in Mexico

Photo: REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

World Cup 00 days : 00 hours : 00 minutes : 00 seconds to the full World Cup area >>

World Cup 2026 Gets Underway: The Biggest Tournament in History Opens in Mexico

Elyahu Amar, 12 minutes ago

World Cup 2026 opened overnight at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City with the opening match between Mexico and South Africa. For the first time, 48 teams are taking part in the tournament, which is being held in three host countries, the United States, Mexico and Canada. In total, the tournament will include 104 matches, a new record in World Cup history.

World Cup 2026

World Cup 2026, the biggest tournament in the history of world football, has kicked off. The opening match was held this evening (Thursday) at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, as Mexico faced South Africa in Group 1. By the ninth minute, the match had already entered the history books, when Julián Quiñones took advantage of a turnover by the South African defense and scored the first goal of World Cup 2026.

3 + The World Cup opening ceremony | Photo: REUTERS/Pawel Kopczynski

This tournament marks a new era for the World Cup. For the first time in history, 48 teams are participating instead of 32, and it spans three host countries, the United States, Mexico and Canada. The teams were divided into 12 groups of four, with the top two from each group and the eight best third-place teams advancing to the round of 32. In total, the tournament will include 104 matches, a new record in World Cup history. The teams that reach the final will play eight matches instead of seven, under the expanded format designed to give more teams a greater chance to participate and advance to the later stages.

Among the tournament's most notable stories are four teams making their historic World Cup debut, Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan. The expansion of the number of participants has opened the door for more teams from around the world that had not previously managed to qualify for the biggest stage in football.

3 + Photo: REUTERS/Hannah Mckay

The Azteca, which hosted the opening match, is considered one of the most iconic stadiums in the history of the sport. The 1970 World Cup final between Brazil and Italy was held there, and it was also the site of Diego Maradona's famous moments against England in the 1986 World Cup. Mexico is now the first country in history to host three different World Cups.

Even before the opening whistle, the meeting between Mexico and South Africa offered several historical parallels. The two teams also met in the opening match of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, when they drew 1:1. In addition, the coaches of both teams, Javier Aguirre and Hugo Broos, met as players 40 years ago in the 1986 World Cup, in the match between Mexico and Belgium, which was also played at the Azteca.

3 + Photo: REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Mexico came into the tournament in excellent form. Aguirre's team did not lose during 2026 and won its last three warm-up matches, including victories over Ghana and Australia and an impressive 1:5 thrashing of Serbia. South Africa, by contrast, arrived after a less stable run of warm-up matches that included draws against Nicaragua and Jamaica and a 2:1 loss to Panama.

The action on the pitch got off to a lively start. In the fifth minute, Raúl Jiménez won a corner after a save by goalkeeper Ronwen Williams. Four minutes later came Quiñones' historic goal. In the 17th minute, the tournament's first yellow card was shown, when Thapelo Mokoena was booked for a foul on Bryan Gutiérrez. Quiñones remained the most dangerous player on the field, and in the 42nd minute he came close to scoring a brace when he struck the right post.

3 + Photo: REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Mexico went into halftime leading 0:1, hoping to open their home World Cup on the right foot and at least match their best World Cup achievement, reaching the quarterfinals. For South Africa, making its fourth World Cup appearance, the task will be to get back into the match and surprise the local crowd.

Group standings

Group A, Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czech Republic Group B, Canada, Bosnia, Qatar, Switzerland Group C, Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland Group D, United States, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey Group E, Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador Group F, Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia Group G, Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand Group H, Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay Group I, France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway Group J, Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan Group K, Portugal, Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia Group L, England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama Group A, Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czech Republic Group B, Canada, Bosnia, Qatar, Switzerland Group C, Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland Group D, United States, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey Group E, Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador Group F, Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia Group G, Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand Group H, Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay Group I, France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway Group J, Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan Group K, Portugal, Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia Group L, England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama

To the full World Cup area >>

More articles

The referee expelled from the United States was assigned to one of the biggest games of the summer

3 hours ago, C14 News Desk

In two hours it starts, who did Yinon Magal choose? Channel 14 reporters predict the World Cup winner

3 hours ago, C14 News Desk

Ronaldo under attack: "He needs to retire, because of him Portugal will not win"

6 16:05 Shoham Marnea

To the full World Cup area >>

World Cup, South Africa, World Cup 2026, Mexico

0

Write a comment