The 2026 FIFA World Cup will begin on Thursday evening with one of the tournament's three co-hosts, Mexico, facing South Africa in the opening match at "Mexico City Stadium," the iconic venue traditionally known as Estadio Azteca. The match will kick off the first-ever 48-team edition of football's biggest competition and mark the start of a month-long football festival across Mexico, the United States and Canada.

The opener will offer a sense of déjà vu, as Mexico and South Africa previously met in the first game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, playing out a 1-1 draw in Johannesburg. Now, 16 years later, the two nations once again have the honor of launching the sport's global showpiece.

Mexico will enter the contest carrying the expectations of a passionate home crowd. Javier Aguirre's team is in Group A, which also includes the Czech Republic and the Republic of Korea. Led by captain Edson Álvarez and veteran striker Raúl Jiménez, El Tri will attempt to make home advantage count as they seek a strong start to their campaign.

The co-host nation will also be looking to put an end to an unusual World Cup statistic. Despite appearing in numerous editions, Mexico has never won its opening match, adding extra significance to the South Africa showdown.

South Africa, meanwhile, arrives with confidence despite being a decided underdog. Head coach Hugo Broos said his team had prepared extensively for the challenge, arriving early in Mexico City to adapt to the altitude and study their opponents. The Belgian believes a positive result could play a pivotal role in determining whether Bafana Bafana can advance out of the group stage.

The African side is aiming to reach the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time and knows that taking points from the co-host in the opener would significantly boost the squad's chances.

This match will also represent a personal milestone for Broos. The 74-year-old will return to the venue as South Africa's head coach, 40 years after playing for Belgium against Mexico at the same stadium during the 1986 World Cup.

With a capacity crowd set to fill the stands and a global audience expected to tune in, the opening game promises to provide an early indication of whether Mexico can thrive under the pressure of hosting, or whether South Africa can produce the first surprise of the tournament.