The opening match of the 2026 World Cup gets under way tonight when Mexico face South Africa
The wait is officially over. Tonight, football takes centre stage as the World Cup kicks off in Mexico.
Fittingly, co-hosts Mexico will get the tournament under way in a historic Group A clash against South Africa at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
In a beautiful twist of football symmetry, tonight’s opener takes place exactly 16 years to the day these two nations met in the opening match of the 2010 World Cup in Johannesburg.
With South Korea and the Czech Republic looming in the rest of Group A, points will be at a premium in what shapes up to be a brutal group to navigate.
While Mexico bypassed the drama of qualifiers as hosts, South Africa earned their spot the hard way by topping a gruelling group ahead of powerhouses Nigeria.
Here is all the essential matchday information you need ahead of the World Cup opener.
Match details and kick-off time
- Fixture: Mexico vs. South Africa (Group A)
- Date: Thursday, June 11
- Kick-off Time: 8pm BST
- Venue: Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
How to watch (UK)
- TV channel: ITV1 (Free-to-air coverage begins at 7.50pm BST, opening ceremony coverage starts at 6.15pm)
- Live stream: ITVX (Available via mobile, tablet, smart TV or desktop with a free account)
Quotes corner
Javier Aguirre (Mexico manager): “I want players who feel proud to compete—players who give everything for their country on the pitch. If they play well and offer versatility, even better. But above all, they must be genuinely eager to represent Mexico.”
Hugo Broos (South Africa manager): “You know, it will be a special and fantastic experience for us because my players have never played in this kind of situation before.
“It will be very important for us to stick to our game plan and not be distracted by what is happening in the stands. We all know there will be thousands of Mexican supporters inside the stadium and maybe only a few South Africans.”
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