The 2026 World Cup began this Thursday with an inaugural ceremony at the Mexico City Stadium marked by music, color, and a strong international artistic display, before the match that will pit Mexico against South Africa in the tournament's opening game.
The opening brought together some of the most prominent names in Latin American and international music. Artists such as Maná, Los Ángeles Azules, Lila Downs, Belinda, and J Balvin participated, in a show that culminated with the performance of Shakira and Burna Boy, who were in charge of performing the official World Cup song.
Mexico is the first of the three host countries to host its own opening ceremony, within an unprecedented format that will be completed in the coming days with similar events in Canada and the United States, reflecting the trilateral dimension of this championship.
Mexico–South Africa Opens the World Cup 16 Years After the Last Precedent
Once the ceremony concluded, the focus shifted to football. At 9:00 PM (Spanish peninsular time), the opening match between Mexico and South Africa kicked off, a duel with history: both teams had already faced each other in a World Cup opener 16 years ago, in South Africa 2010, when they drew 1-1 in Johannesburg.
For Mexico, the tournament represents an opportunity to reassert itself as a host powerhouse. The country becomes the first to host three World Cups, after 1970 and 1986, editions in which it reached the quarterfinals. After the disappointment of Qatar 2022, coach Javier Aguirre leads a new generation that includes veteran players like Edson Álvarez, Raúl Jiménez, and Santiago Giménez alongside young talents like Gilberto Mora.
South Africa Returns to a World Cup 16 Years Later
Facing them will be South Africa, which returns to a World Cup after a 16-year absence, strengthened by its recent competitiveness under the guidance of Belgian coach Hugo Broos. The African team relies on a solid core of clubs like Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates, with standout figures such as goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, midfielder Teboho Mokoena, and veteran Themba Zwane.
South Africa aims to improve its historical performance and, for the first time, advance beyond the group stage in a World Cup.
Between music, nostalgia and sporting ambition, Mexico–South Africa opens a World Cup that aims to mark a new stage in the history of football, with shared organization between three countries and an inauguration that has opted for a more spectacular format than ever before.