Mexico vs South Africa: World Cup 2026 Opener at Estadio Azteca
The first match of the largest World Cup in history. Mexico face South Africa at the Estadio Azteca on Thursday, June 11, 2026, kicking off the first-ever 48-team tournament. Below is everything you need: TV channels, kickoff times, squads, the venue’s historic moment, and the breaking news from the South African camp.
Mexico
Host · Group A
VS
3:00 PM
ET · Jun 11
South Africa
Africa · Group A
🚨 Breaking · June 1, 2026
South Africa’s World Cup departure delayed by Mexican visa debacle
According to Al Jazeera reporting, Bafana Bafana’s flight from OR Tambo to Mexico City was postponed due to visa issues. SAFA confirmed an emergency committee meeting and Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie called the situation “embarrassing and grossly unfair.” The squad will continue training in Johannesburg until departure, with a final friendly against Jamaica scheduled for June 5.
There is a beautiful symmetry to this opening match that almost no one is talking about. Javier Aguirre and Hugo Broos, the two head coaches squaring off at Azteca on Thursday, faced each other on this exact same pitch in 1986. Aguirre, then 27, was in Mexico’s midfield for the opening match against Belgium. Broos, then 34, was Belgium’s captain. Mexico won 2-1. Forty years later they meet again as opposing managers in the same stadium for the same kind of game.
Both men returned to football management after long careers. Aguirre is in his third spell as Mexico’s head coach, having led El Tri to the 2025 Concacaf Nations League and Gold Cup titles. Broos, the 74-year-old Belgian, has rebuilt South Africa from the ground up since taking charge in 2021. His Bafana Bafana side topped a tough CAF qualifying group ahead of Nigeria and reached the AFCON 2025 Round of 16.
Estadio Azteca itself writes history tonight. With this kickoff, the stadium becomes the first venue ever to host matches at three different World Cups · 1970, 1986, and now 2026. FIFA has renamed it Estadio Banorte for sponsorship reasons during the tournament. The venue reopened on March 28, 2026 with a 0-0 friendly between Mexico and Portugal.
Quick Answer
Watch in 30 seconds
Mexico vs South Africa kicks off at 3:00 PM ET (1:00 PM local) on Thursday, June 11, 2026. Watch on Fox (English) and Telemundo (Spanish) in the US, free on Tubi. In Mexico, the match is free on Televisa Canal 5. In South Africa, free on SABC 1. BBC One and ITV1 share UK rights, both free.
Date
Thu, Jun 11
Kickoff
3:00 PM ET
Free Watch
Tubi · Canal 5
Mexico vs South Africa Kickoff Time by Country
The tournament opener kicks off at 1:00 PM local Mexico City time on Thursday, June 11. That works out to a primetime evening kickoff across Europe and Africa.
TV Channels by Country
Mexico (Host)
South Africa
United States
United Kingdom
MENA Region
Canada
Players to Watch in the Opener
MEXICO
Coach: Javier Aguirre · 3rd spell as Mexico boss
Guillermo Ochoa
GK · 39 · Sixth and final World Cup
Edson Álvarez (C)
Midfielder · West Ham · Defensive anchor
Raúl Jiménez
Striker · Fulham · Veteran goal threat
Santiago Giménez
Striker · AC Milan · The future
Hirving Lozano
Winger · PSV · Pace and directness
SOUTH AFRICA
Coach: Hugo Broos · Belgian, 74yo, since 2021
Ronwen Williams (C)
GK · Mamelodi Sundowns · AFCON saviour
Teboho Mokoena
Midfielder · Sundowns · Set-piece specialist
Relebohile Mofokeng
Attacker · Orlando Pirates · 21yo prodigy
Mbekezeli Mbokazi
Centre back · Chicago Fire MLS
Lyle Foster
Striker · Burnley · Premier League experience
Match Preview & Prediction
Mexico arrive at the World Cup having played 11 friendlies since July 2025 with just three wins. Despite the disappointing record (losses to Colombia 4-0 and Paraguay 2-1, plus six draws), Aguirre has the advantage of Estadio Azteca’s 2,200-metre altitude. South Africa qualified by topping CAF Group C above Nigeria, then reached the AFCON 2025 Round of 16. Hugo Broos has built a disciplined, athletic side that excels on the counter.
The visa drama disrupting Bafana Bafana’s travel plans will not help their preparation. South Africa still need to play their pre-tournament friendly against Jamaica on June 5. Arriving late to Mexico City with limited time to adjust to the altitude is a significant disadvantage. Mexico’s home crowd of nearly 90,000 at Azteca will create one of the loudest atmospheres in the tournament.
Our prediction: Mexico 2-1. Expect Mexico to start strongly with Santiago Giménez or Raúl Jiménez likely to score. South Africa will sit deep and look to hit on the counter, with Mofokeng their main threat. Over 2.5 goals carries value given the historical opening-match pattern (the 2010 opener between these sides ended 1-1).
Likely Winner
🇲🇽 Mexico
Total Goals
Over 2.5
BTTS
Yes
Score
2 – 1
A Rematch of the 2010 World Cup Opener
The two nations have met four times before. Mexico lead 2-1-1 overall. Their most famous encounter remains the 2010 World Cup opener in Johannesburg.
2
🇲🇽 MEX Wins
1
Draws
1
🇿🇦 RSA Wins
⚽ 2010 World Cup Opener · Johannesburg
South Africa 1-1 Mexico · June 11, 2010 · Soccer City, Johannesburg
The 2010 opener gave the world Siphiwe Tshabalala’s 55th-minute strike, one of the iconic goals of that tournament. Rafael Márquez equalised in the 79th minute. Both teams ultimately exited the group stage. Sixteen years later, Mexico and South Africa meet again to open another World Cup · this time on Mexican soil.
Odds for the World Cup Opener
Mexico are clear favourites but value sits in the scorer and total goals markets. New customers on 1XBET get a welcome bonus up to $130.
🇲🇽 Mexico
1.65
Draw
3.80
🇿🇦 S.Africa
5.50
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