One World Cup referee will be hoping for a quieter time of things when the 2026 tournament kicks off

An all Brazilian contingent will officiate Bafana Bafana’s Fifa World Cup opening game against hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca on Thursday, June 11 (kickoff 9pm SA time).

June 9 : Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio will take charge of the opening match of the FIFA World Cup between Mexico and South Africa, leading a three-man Brazil team for the…

Wilton Sampaio leads an all-Brazilian referee team for the FIFA World Cup 2026 opener between Mexico and South Africa.

One World Cup referee will be hoping for a quieter time of things when the 2026 tournament kicks off

Mexico hosts South Africa in a repeat of the opening fixture from the 2010 World Cup.

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleThe 2026 World Cup gets underway in Mexico…

The opening game is upon us with co-hosts Mexico welcoming South Africa and returning the favour of the privilege from opening the 2010 FIFA World Cup

The 48-team era officially begins on Thursday as co-hosts Mexico take on South Africa in the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Follow Daily Mail Sport's live blog for the latest score, team news and updates as Mexico vs South Africa kicks off the 2026 World Cup following the opening ceremony.

Minute-by-minute report: Join Daniel Harris for updates as the co-hosts kickstart the tournament against Bafana Bafana in Mexico City