The road to the FIFA World Cup 2026 begins with a historic opener as co-host Mexico takes on South Africa in the first match of the expanded 48-team tournament on June 11 (EST) at Mexico City Stadium. The encounter marks the opening fixture of a World Cup that will feature a record 104 matches across three host nations.
Interestingly, the matchup mirrors the opening game of the 2010 World Cup, when South Africa welcomed Mexico as hosts. Sixteen years later, the roles are reversed, with El Tri looking to make a strong start in front of a passionate home crowd.