The 2026 World Cup kicks off in Mexico City

Michael Kenrick 11/06/2026 36comments | Jump to last

Mexico 2 - 0 South Africa

The 2026 World Cup kicks off in Mexico City tonight when one of the North American co-hosts, Mexico take on South Africa after the opening ceremony.

Sixteen years ago, it was South Africa hosting El Tri in Johannesburg, treated to that unforgettable Siphiwe Tshabalala thunderbolt before a late equaliser from Rafael Márquez — who happens to be back on the bench today as assistant to Javier Aguirre. This time, the intimidating, high-altitude cauldron of the Estadio Azteca plays host, giving Mexico a colossal home advantage.

World Cup openers are notoriously cagey, tense affairs where the fear of losing the opening match overrides the desire to stream forward. However, the combination of a partisan capacity crowd and the brutal Mexico City altitude should slowly choke out South Africa's pressing game in the second half.

Team News & Tactics

Mexico: Javier Aguirre has whipped El Tri into formidable shape. Unbeaten in their last eight games and fresh off a 5-1 dismantling of Serbia, they operate in a defensively disciplined yet expansive 4-3-3 system. Captain Edson Álvarez anchors the defensive unit, while the attacking thrust will be led by the veteran Raul Jiménez and the in-form Julian Quiñones.

Expect Mexico to use the wide areas aggressively, overlapping full-backs to stretch the South African shape while using their familiarity with the 2,200-metre altitude to wear the visitors down.

South Africa: Hugo Broos has constructed an incredibly resilient Bafana Bafana side built on collective cohesion rather than individual superstars. They will likely set up in a compact 4-2-3-1 deep block, looking to survive the early emotional onslaught from the home crowd.

Left-back Aubrey Modiba has shrugged off a hamstring issue to start, and Premier League-experienced forward Lyle Foster will act as the crucial focal point upfront, tasked with holding up the ball to trigger quick counter-attacks via wide-man Oswin Appollis.

Thursday 11 June 2026

20:00 Mexico v South Africa in Group A — ITV 1
03:00 South Korea v Czech Republic in Group A — ITV 1

Reader Comments (36)

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Jason Hewly
1 Posted 11/06/2026 at 16:11:12

Brad Freidel has just said something about the altitude on TalkSport.

Basically, if you're not conditioned to handle it, you're totally screwed. You'll never be able to get through it.

John Collins
2 Posted 11/06/2026 at 16:25:56

There are no right-backs, who would improve Everton, available in world football, we are informed on here.

Our first chance to look at the right backs playing in the World Cup tonight.

Jason Hewly
3 Posted 11/06/2026 at 16:49:39

Apparently, some unions in the USA are threatening strike action if ICE start getting heavy-handed with migrant workers at the World Cup stadiums.

California is likely to be the first state to see such industrial action.

Andrew Ellams
4 Posted 11/06/2026 at 17:02:41

Jason @ 1. The altitude saw quite a few players off in 1986 in Mexico.

On the other hand, as the air is thinner up there, we saw some cracking long-range goals.

Jason Hewly
5 Posted 11/06/2026 at 18:05:45

Andrew, 4, I can imagine a player will be absolutely goosed and just decide to smash it from 40 yrds. Could be interesting with a lighter ball too.

Paul Hewitt
6 Posted 11/06/2026 at 19:26:07

The least I've been interested in a world cup. Be watching saint beat Warrington instead.

Liam Mogan
7 Posted 11/06/2026 at 19:47:49

Shakira looks well for nearly 50 and coped well with the altitude.

Jason Hewly
8 Posted 11/06/2026 at 20:00:53

Liam, 7, Yeah, but she didn't track back, didn't run the channels, and the only dribbling was from me watching.

Liam Mogan
9 Posted 11/06/2026 at 20:04:38

I was struggling to breathe watching her, Jason

Michael Kenrick
10 Posted 11/06/2026 at 20:19:59

Terrible goal for South Africa to give away.

Can't find my vuvuzela...

Liam Mogan
11 Posted 11/06/2026 at 20:30:34

The midfielder who made the mistake, Sithole, reminds me of Burnley.

Michael Kenrick
12 Posted 11/06/2026 at 20:35:09

Ah... I see what you did there, Liam!

Tom Bowers
13 Posted 11/06/2026 at 20:41:25

Why do so many teams insist on playing the possession game in their own third when the players they have are not good enough and the other team are using the high press?

South Africa are prime examples and their passing has been awful all over the field.

Mexico will score a few more.

Liam Mogan
14 Posted 11/06/2026 at 20:45:10

Looks like we are going to see a lot of slow-paced games in these conditions

You're right Tom. South Africa's passing has been awful.

Liam Mogan
15 Posted 11/06/2026 at 21:50:13

Game is corrupt and they are just making shit up

Andrew Ellams
16 Posted 11/06/2026 at 21:57:11

Average team beats a poor team.

Liam Mogan
17 Posted 11/06/2026 at 22:01:04

The ref has been garbage from the first minute

David West
18 Posted 11/06/2026 at 22:09:41

Group stages going to be a long bore fest, with more teams of poor quality just making up the numbers.
Hard for even a half decent side not to get through.
Better than watching love island though !

Paul Griffiths
19 Posted 12/06/2026 at 04:18:09

How the feck have the Czechs gone ahead here? In other good news, our Soucek looks half decent.

Paul Griffiths
20 Posted 12/06/2026 at 04:28:24

Now that was some classy goal. SK should go on - deserve - to win this.

Mick O\\\'Malley
21 Posted 12/06/2026 at 08:02:38

Paul Hewitt, that didn't turn out to well, Warrington worthy winners, I'm with you in that I'm not remotely interested in the world cup, I might watch Scotland Sunday morning when I'm doing my usual insomniac night shift but for the most part I'll be swerving it, I'm getting pissed off with football, I despise VAR and I hate the physicality and tackling being taken out of the game, I'm not a fan of the constant pass pass pass and get nowhere football we regularly get served up especially in the International games

John Collins
22 Posted 12/06/2026 at 08:20:46

Me too Mick.

The game is gone mate.
They played ads in the water breaks last night a mate over there told me.
An absolute certainty we will follow and play adverts in VAR breaks soon.
Money talks, there will be more VAR checks to allow more ads.

Is it next season they start using VAR on disputed corner kicks?

Paul Griffiths
23 Posted 12/06/2026 at 08:23:45

John, Yank TV did put on a stream of adverts in the water breaks.

John Collins
24 Posted 12/06/2026 at 08:35:13

Thin end of the wedge Paul.

Andrew Ellams
25 Posted 12/06/2026 at 08:51:28

John C. I think VAR on disputed corners and second yellow has been brought in for this tournament hasn't it?

I'd be interested to see the stats next May for which PL teams benefit the most from the new rules on handing over throw ins and delayed substitutions too.

John Collins
26 Posted 12/06/2026 at 09:33:47

I didnt realise that Andrew.
Maybe Paul G could let us know if they play ads during the Var checks.

Mark Murphy
27 Posted 12/06/2026 at 09:53:41

I’m pretty sure the Yanks wanted 4 quarter games when they hosted in ‘94 but were over ruled.
With these scheduled water breaks they’ve got what they wanted.
No more “games of two halves” - the precedent has been set.

Raymond Fox
28 Posted 12/06/2026 at 10:07:54

The betting to win the World Cup:-

9/2 joint favourites France & Spain,
7/1 England & Portugal,
9/1 Brazil & Argentina,
14/1 Germany,
18/1 Netherlands,
Norway 25/1,
Belgium 33/1,
40/1 and larger others.

Those are approx odds; you can get bigger odds here and there.

We should be bigger than 7/1, the bookies know that most English people will still bet them whatever the price is. I might be tempted each way to reach the final at 10/1 +.

Andrew Ellams
29 Posted 12/06/2026 at 12:40:21

I think those odds are pretty fair, Raymond, apart from I'd have Argentina shorter than England and Portugal.

John Collins
30 Posted 12/06/2026 at 12:46:39

Tempt yourself with Mbappe top scorer, Raymond.

I got 6s.

Mike Hayes
31 Posted 12/06/2026 at 13:07:58

Apparently Blatter and Platini were trying to get 4 quarters in all football reducing the game time to 80 mins so 4 x 20 mins obviously to grab more money through advertising. Only us fans can stop it happening if it's in the pipeline.

There should be a fan vote to get shut of VAR, it's destroying the enjoyment and anticipation of a goal and celebration of a goal. Ball hits back of the net the fans cheer only for there to be a check.

Football is fucked as a sport; it's just a business model for the rich to get richer while fans are treated like shite. 😡

Raymond Fox
32 Posted 12/06/2026 at 13:08:35

Andrew and John,

I can't pretend I've studied the World Cup at all so I don't know who meets who as they progress in the tournament.

Brazil, Argentina and Germany at first glance look decent odds; they traditionally do well and Mbappe is in a top team, John, so he has every chance.

Like I say, I've not followed International football or the draw so I'm largely in the dark, don't go off anything I say.

Christy Ring
33 Posted 12/06/2026 at 13:23:03

It seems that Trump wants last night's referee to take charge of ICE, he got rid of two South African's and one Mexican in 90 minutes.

John Collins
34 Posted 12/06/2026 at 14:10:28

Me neither, Raymond, I don't take much interest until the knockout stages.

Looking at the competition for top scorer, I think 6/1 is overpriced, good value bet. Obstacle is they rest him once qualified.

Michael Kenrick
35 Posted 12/06/2026 at 14:30:23

For those like me who seem to develop ADHD when trying to watch a full game of that there modern soccer, it looks like the BBC iPlayer will carry sensible 8- or 9-minute highlight reels -- even though the live games were on ITV.

Second yellow card for South Africa seemed a bit harsh.

Son was good for South Korea, who were all over Czechia.

Ron Sear
36 Posted 12/06/2026 at 15:29:30

In future, in an international, we should all sing the second verse of the national anthem and leave out the first, it would make more sense now:

O Lord our God arise, scatter our enemies, and make them fall! Confound their politics, frustrate their knavish tricks, on Thee our hopes we fix, God save us all.

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