Mexico didn’t just win the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They made a statement that echoed across every group stage bracket in the tournament.
The co-hosts dismantled South Africa 4-0 at the Mexico City Stadium, the legendary venue also known as Estadio Azteca, in front of a home crowd that had waited years for this moment. The result kicked off what will be the largest World Cup ever staged, with 104 total matches spread across the expanded format.
A 2010 rematch with a very different ending
History buffs will remember that Mexico and South Africa opened the 2010 World Cup in Johannesburg with a 1-1 draw. That match set the tone for a tournament where the host nation ultimately failed to advance past the group stage. Sixteen years later, Mexico made sure this particular sequel had a different ending.
The 4-0 scoreline wasn’t exactly a surprise if you’d been paying attention. Multiple outlets had forecast precisely this result heading into the June 11 kickoff, citing Mexico’s dominant recent form and South Africa’s inconsistent qualifying campaign.
