Mexico Opens 2026 World Cup With 2-0 Win Over South Africa
The 2026 World Cup began on Friday with host Mexico beating South Africa 2-0 in the opening match at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca. Julian Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez scored for Mexico, giving the home side three points and an early boost in the race to reach the next stage.
The Azteca hosted a World Cup opener for the third time, after 1970 and 1986, and more than 87,000 fans saw a celebratory atmosphere throughout the match. Before kickoff, Shakira performed in the opening ceremony, adding to the festive start. The tournament is the first World Cup held across three countries, the United States, Canada and Mexico, and the first with 48 teams instead of 32.
Mexico’s victory gives it a strong position early in the competition, with more updates to follow.
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