When The National Went to Its First World Cup: 16 Years on, the Memories Remain Vivid
FIFA says the same opening fixture is being repeated for only the second time in the modern World Cup era, with Mexico hosting South Africa again.
- On Thursday, the 2026 Fifa World Cup kicks off at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, featuring a historic rematch between Mexico and South Africa.
- That 2010 match ended in a 1-1 draw, with Siphiwe Tshabalala's iconic goal for South Africa and Rafa Marquez rescuing a draw for Mexico; Fifa described the fixture as football "looking over its shoulder."
- Estadio Azteca etches itself into history as the first venue to host World Cup opening matches in 1970, 1986, and 2026, while Mexico's Gilberto Mora, aged 17 years and 240 days, represents a new generation born after the last meeting.
- South Africa head coach Hugo Broos returns to the Azteca Stadium for another World Cup opener, four decades after the Belgian played there during the 1986 tournament.
- As the lights rise at the Azteca, football witnesses a rare continuation of a story that began 16 years ago in Johannesburg, marking how much the global game has evolved since 2010.
13 Articles
13 Articles
The 2026 World Cup starts on Thursday. South Africa and Mexico face a valid start for the first round of the competition. To enter the climate, nothing better than exploring the rich gastronomy of the South African nation. Known as the rainbow cuisine, the [...]
Mexico and South Africa kick off the World Cup tonight. A repeat of the opening match in 2010, when a then-unknown South African forward put himself on the global map with a glorious goal and dance. How is Siphiwe Tshabalala doing now?
The opening match of the World Cup between Mexico and South Africa is a re-release of the first match at the 2010 World Cup, which ended 1-1, partly due to a miracle goal by South Africa forward Tshabalala. Hugo Broos (74) will have to resist host country Mexico's waves of attack with South Africa to get off to a good start at the World Cup.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 40% of the sources lean Left, 40% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
