MEXICO CITY — Host nation Mexico will look to end a long-standing World Cup opening-day drought when it faces South Africa in the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday.El Tri has never won a match played on the opening day of a World Cup, recording five defeats and two draws across seven previous appearances in tournament curtain-raisers.Coach Javier Aguirre hopes that statistic will finally change when Mexico launches the first 48-team World Cup in front of a packed home crowd at the Azteca Stadium."We must break that trend," Aguirre said on Wednesday."I did not know about that, but I'll mention it to the guys. It's a good reason to tell them we need to go out there and win the match."A chance to make historyMexico enters the tournament in strong form, unbeaten in its last seven matches. El Tri's most recent defeat came against Paraguay in November.Aguirre, now in his third spell as Mexico manager, believes Thursday's opener presents a unique opportunity for his players."It could be a great day for us; come what may, it will be a celebration that endures for decades," he said."The players know it: tomorrow could be a historic day for many of them, as it is unlikely these guys will ever experience a World Cup on home soil again."Mexico previously hosted the World Cup in 1970 and 1986, but did not play the opening match in either tournament.Familiar opponentsThursday's clash is a rematch of the opening game of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, which ended in a 1-1 draw in Johannesburg.The match also reunites Aguirre with South Africa coach Hugo Broos.Broos was a player for Belgium when Aguirre represented Mexico at the 1986 World Cup. The two faced each other in Mexico's 2-1 victory over Belgium during the group stage."I vividly remember the confidence with which we took the field to face Belgium," Aguirre said.South Africa ready for challengeSouth Africa qualified for its first World Cup since 2010 under Broos and arrives in Mexico with confidence after finishing third at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.The veteran Belgian coach acknowledged the challenge of playing in front of a partisan crowd but insisted his players would not be intimidated."For sure it is a big challenge to play in front of 87,000 Mexicans," Broos said."But the Mexicans at the stadium do not play, they just shout and sing and dance. We have to focus on the game."Broos added that the pressure rests firmly on the host nation."We don't have the pressure that belongs to the host," he said. "We are prepared very well for tomorrow's match."A historic night awaitsMexico lost opening-day World Cup matches in 1930, 1950, 1954, 1958 and 1962, while drawing its opening-day fixtures in 1970 and 2010.With home support behind them and momentum on their side, Aguirre's team now has another opportunity to finally secure Mexico's first victory in a World Cup opening-day match and launch its home tournament in style.