Mexico open the 2026 FIFA World Cup against South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on Thursday 11 June 2026. The Group A opener is the tournament’s first match and takes place in the same stadium that hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Cup Finals, making the Azteca the first venue ever to stage matches at three different men’s World Cups.
What is the FIFA World Cup 2026?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the 23rd edition of the men’s world championship and the first to be co-hosted by three nations: the United States, Canada and Mexico. It is also the first tournament to feature an expanded field of 48 teams, split into 12 groups of four. The top two from each group, plus the eight best third-placed finishers, advance to a new Round of 32 knockout stage.
Mexico vs South Africa is the curtain-raiser, kicking off five weeks of football across 16 host cities and 104 matches in total.
When is Mexico vs South Africa?
The match kicks off at 12:00 local time (CDT) on Thursday 11 June 2026. That is 15:00 ET in the United States, 20:00 BST in the United Kingdom, and 21:00 CEST in central Europe. The opening ceremony takes place at the stadium immediately before kick-off.
Where is Mexico vs South Africa being played?
The match is at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Mexico. The stadium, officially renamed Estadio Banorte for the tournament, has a capacity of around 87,000 and sits at an altitude of 2,240 metres. It is one of three Mexican venues for the tournament, alongside Estadio Akron in Guadalajara and Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, and the only one to host a World Cup opener.
Key Contenders
Mexico qualified automatically as co-hosts and go into the tournament ranked 15th in the FIFA world rankings. Javier Aguirre returns for a third spell as head coach after leading El Tri to the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Mexico’s squad is built around captain Edson Alvarez in midfield, forward Raul Jimenez, AC Milan striker Santiago Gimenez and teenage midfielder Gilberto Mora, with Club America goalkeeper Luis Malagon expected to start between the posts.
South Africa return to the World Cup for the first time since 2010, when they became the first host nation not to escape the group stage. Bafana Bafana qualified through the CAF route under head coach Hugo Broos and will rely on goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, attacking midfielder Percy Tau and Sundowns forward Lyle Foster. Mexico are strong favourites, but South Africa will look to frustrate the hosts in what is expected to be a partisan Azteca crowd.
How to Watch Mexico vs South Africa
In the United Kingdom, the match is free-to-air on BBC or ITV, with streaming on BBC iPlayer and ITVX. In the United States, FOX holds English-language rights with coverage on FOX and the FOX Sports app, while Telemundo and Peacock show the Spanish-language broadcast. Canadian viewers can watch on CTV, TSN and RDS. Globally, FIFA+ offers additional streaming and highlights in selected markets.
History and Records
Mexico and South Africa have met only a handful of times, with the most notable fixture a 1-1 draw in the opening match of the 2010 World Cup in Johannesburg. That game is best remembered for Siphiwe Tshabalala’s thunderous opener, one of the great World Cup opening-day goals. Mexico have reached the Round of 16 at every World Cup they have competed in since 1994, a run of seven consecutive tournaments, but have not progressed beyond the last 16 in their last seven attempts.
Tickets and Attendance
Tickets are sold exclusively through FIFA’s official ticketing portal at fifa.com/tickets. Demand for the opening match has been exceptionally high, with most categories long sold out. Hospitality packages remain available through FIFA’s official hospitality provider, On Location.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Mexico vs South Africa kick off?
The match kicks off at 12:00 local time on Thursday 11 June 2026, which is 15:00 ET and 20:00 BST.
Where is Mexico vs South Africa being held?
At Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, the opening venue of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
How can I watch Mexico vs South Africa?
BBC or ITV in the UK, FOX and Telemundo in the US, and CTV/TSN in Canada. FIFA+ offers streaming in selected markets.
When did Mexico and South Africa last meet at a World Cup?
They drew 1-1 in the opening match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Johannesburg.