The First Match at the Azteca: Mexico vs South Africa
On the evening of June 11 at 10:00 PM Kyiv time (19:00 UTC), the legendary Estadio Azteca in Mexico City will host the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup — Mexico vs South Africa. It is the first of 104 games in the largest World Cup in history, spanning the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Fittingly, this fixture mirrors the 2010 World Cup opener in Johannesburg, where hosts South Africa drew 1–1 with Mexico. Siphiwe Tshabalala scored one of the most memorable goals in World Cup history that day, with Rafael Márquez equalizing for El Tri. Notably, that match also took place on June 11 — exactly 16 years ago.
Teams and Coaches
The Mexican national team is led by Javier Aguirre, now in his third stint as El Tri manager. The hosts are counting on a packed Azteca crowd and are eager to go as far as possible in a home tournament.
South Africa, managed by 74-year-old Hugo Broos, are returning to the World Cup for the first time since 2010. Bafana Bafana's path to the tournament was far from smooth: the team was docked three points for fielding suspended player Tebogo Mokwena in a qualifying match, yet still managed to edge out Nigeria and Benin to secure their spot. ESPN describes the side as playing "free-flowing football with an emphasis on ball control," though they have gone four games without a win.
Group A: First Round Schedule
- June 11, 10:00 PM (Kyiv) — Mexico vs South Africa, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
- June 12, 5:00 AM (Kyiv) — South Korea vs Czech Republic, Guadalajara
The first round of Group A will thus be complete by Friday morning. The group's remaining matches are scheduled for June 18–19 (second round) and June 25 (third round).
Opening Ceremony and Official Song
Before the match in Mexico City, the first of three opening ceremonies will take place. Performers include Mexican rock band Maná, Belinda, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules, Nigerian artist Burna Boy, Colombian acts J Balvin and Shakira, and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. Shakira will perform the tournament's official song, "Dai Dai."
FIFA Controversy: Water Bottle Ban
On the eve of the tournament, FIFA came under fire over an updated stadium code of conduct that bans reusable water bottles from venues. Previously, fans were allowed to bring empty, transparent bottles of up to one litre. The issue has taken on added urgency given the summer heat in the host cities. FIFA stated it is working with host cities on heat mitigation measures — including hydration stations, misting units, and cooling tents — but the ban on reusable bottles remains in place.
Tournament Overview
The 2026 World Cup is the first to feature 48 national teams, divided into 12 groups of four. The top two from each group advance to the knockout stage, along with the eight best third-placed teams. A total of 104 matches will be played over 39 days — from June 11 to July 19. The final will be held at MetLife Stadium in the New York metropolitan area.
