US EditionMexico and South Africa Open World Cup 2026
The opening match will feature joint-host Mexico against South Africa at Azteca Stadium in the expanded 48-team 2026 FIFA World Cup, starting June 11.
- The 2026 World Cup will begin on June 11 with joint-host Mexico facing South Africa at Estadio Azteca, following FIFA's draw on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025.
- The draw handled placements for the expanded 48-team tournament, leaving six playoff berths, with FIFA calling the process hugely complicated due to geographic sub-clauses.
- A newly introduced seeding system ensures Spain, defending champion Argentina, France and England cannot meet until the semifinals, and FIFA's draw placed Argentina with Algeria, Austria and debutants Jordan while Brazil faces Morocco.
- Mexico's co-hosts the United States and Canada will play the day after the opener in Los Angeles and Toronto against Paraguay and a playoff winner, possibly Italy, and U.S. President Donald Trump received the new FIFA peace prize during the over-hour opening ceremony.
- South Africa returns to the finals after 2010, when it drew 1-1 with Mexico in the opener but failed to reach knockouts; under coach Hugo Broos they have yet to progress beyond the group stage.
83 Articles
83 Articles
The meeting will take place on 11 June at the Aztec stadium in Mexico City.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Groups Unveiled; Mexico-South Africa Clash to Open Tournament As Argentina and Portugal Get Drafted In Groups J and K
As the draw went ahead, the clash between co-hosts Mexico and Canada was also confirmed as the tournament opener on June 11 next year in Mexico City. The tournament is being co-hosted by the USA, Mexico and Canada. FIFA World Cup 2026 Groups Unveiled; Mexico-South Africa Clash to Open Tournament As Argentina and Portugal Get Drafted In Groups J and K.
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Independent EspañolBy CARLOS RODRÍGUEZ MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico struggled at the last World Cup in Qatar and hasn't performed well lately, but some players and coach Javier Aguirre believe that having the advantage of playing at home against opponents they've beaten before could lead to a historic performance at the 2026 edition. The Mexicans will play South Africa in the tournament's opening match on June 11 at Azteca Stadium. They will also face South Korea on …
Mexico Faces South Africa in the Inaugural Match: This Is How the Groups of the 2026 World Cup Stood
The draw for the 2026 World Cup has already been held! Mexico, which is head of Group A, finally defined its rival for the opening of the 2026 World Cup, scheduled for June 11 at Banorte Stadium (Aztec): it will be South Africa.In addition, the FIFA event, which had an unprecedented political component: the first face-to-face meeting of President Claudia Sheinbaum with his counterpart Donald Trump, left several surprises like Germany facing Cura…
The opening match for the 2026 World Cup has now been decided: Homenation Mexico meets South Africa, the host of 2010. At that time the two nations were also opposed to each other in the premiere match. The match will take place on 11 June 2026 in Mexico City. South Korea is also waiting in Group A, against which Mexico only played at the 2018 World Cup and the winner of the European playoff D, where Denmark, the Czech Republic, Ireland and Nort…
The opening game of the XXL tournament is scheduled for next summer. There is a new edition. Mexico meets South Africa - and wants to do it better than host Qatar in winter 2022.
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