Mexico will host South Africa in the first World Cup game 2026 on Thursday, June 11, at Mexico City Stadium (Estadio Azteca), kicking off at 7:00 p.m. local time. The opening match marks a historic rematch of the 2010 World Cup opener, when South Africa hosted Mexico on the same date 16 years earlier.
The Estadio Azteca will make history as the first stadium ever to host three World Cup opening matches, having previously opened the tournament in 1970 and 1986. The venue holds a capacity of 87,523 spectators, and Mexico City’s government has declared June 11 a local holiday to celebrate the tournament’s launch.
This opening match is part of the 2026 World Cup’s expanded format, which will feature 48 teams competing in 104 total matches across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tournament runs through July 19, with the final scheduled for New York-New Jersey.
Sources
- FIFA — confirmed the opening match details, date, time, and venue
- ESPN — reported the match as the World Cup opener and noted it as a reverse fixture of 2010
- Reuters — confirmed the June 11 date and Azteca Stadium hosting the opening match
- Al Jazeera — verified the match as the opening game with location and date
