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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Barnaby Lane

Mexico vs. South Africa—World Cup: Preview, Predictions and Lineups

Rejoice, soccer fans—it’s finally here. The 2026 World Cup is getting underway.

After literally years of anticipation, the sport’s biggest stage has returned. Kicking off on Thursday, co-host Mexico faces 2010 host South Africa—a repeat of the opening fixture 16 years ago—in the curtain-raiser at the iconic Estadio Azteca, setting for the 1970 and 1986 finals.

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