Mexico vs South Africa: World Cup 2026 Opening Match Preview

The wait is finally over. The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on Thursday, June 11 as Mexico welcome South Africa to the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City — a nostalgic repeat of the famous 2010 opening match that captured the world's imagination. With Shakira and Burna Boy headlining the opening ceremony, the stage is set for a spectacular start to the most anticipated World Cup in a generation. Both nations arrive with enormous stakes and something meaningful to prove on the grandest stage in football.

Mexico vs South Africa is scheduled for an 8pm BST kick-off on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. UK viewers can watch the match live and free on ITV1, with coverage beginning at 7:50pm BST ahead of the opening ceremony. The game is also available to stream online via the ITVX app and the ITV website at no cost. Free highlights will be published on FIFA's official YouTube channel and the ITVX platform shortly after the final whistle.

Mexico manager Javier Aguirre — now in his remarkable third stint leading El Tri — faces an interesting goalkeeping dilemma after veteran shot-stopper Guillermo Ochoa earned a late squad call-up. However, the experienced 39-year-old is not expected to displace established first-choice goalkeeper Raul Rangel. Up front, Raul Jimenez is set to lead the Mexican attack despite being released by Fulham in the days preceding the tournament, with Aguirre clearly placing his faith in the striker's international pedigree. The mission for the host nation is crystal clear: end a painful 40-year wait to win a World Cup knockout round match, a drought that has haunted Mexican football since 1986. For Bafana Bafana, qualifying for this tournament represents a significant achievement in itself — it marks their first World Cup appearance since they hosted the tournament back in 2010. South Africa have never progressed beyond the group stage in any of their previous World Cup campaigns, and head coach Hugo Broos will be hoping his squad can finally make history on the biggest occasion the sport offers.

The most significant meeting between these two sides remains their 2010 World Cup opener at Soccer City in Johannesburg, which ended 1-1. That match is immortalised by Siphiwe Tshabalala's thunderous left-footed strike — one of the most iconic goals in World Cup history. Now, 16 years later, the roles are reversed, with Mexico playing host and carrying the weight of expectation. The Azteca crowd will provide an electric atmosphere, but South Africa will draw inspiration from the memory of that famous afternoon in Soweto.

• 12010 World Cup Group Stage: South Africa 1-1 Mexico (Soccer City, Johannesburg)
• 2Mexico are unbeaten in their last 12 home competitive internationals at the Azteca
• 3South Africa have not featured in a World Cup since 2010 — a 16-year absence
• 4Mexico have reached the Round of 16 in seven consecutive World Cups but failed to advance further each time
• 5Javier Aguirre previously managed Mexico at the 2002 and 2010 World Cups

Mexico enter as clear favourites with the bookmakers, and the home advantage at the Azteca — one of football's most intimidating venues — makes them difficult to oppose in this opening fixture. Aguirre's side possess superior depth, stronger domestic league experience, and the psychological boost of playing in front of a passionate home crowd. South Africa, however, are no pushover. They qualified impressively through the African qualifying rounds and will be motivated by that famous 2010 memory. Expect Mexico to control possession and create the better opportunities, but Bafana Bafana are capable of making this uncomfortable. A narrow Mexico win feels like the most likely outcome, though a repeat of the 2010 draw cannot be dismissed. Our prediction is Mexico 2-1 South Africa, with the hosts delivering the performance their fans have been demanding at the dawn of a new World Cup era.