Mexico beats South Africa 2-0 in opening match of 2026 FIFA World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup launched on 11 June in Mexico, the United States and Canada with 48 national teams competing in 12 groups. The tournament’s inaugural game was played at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium, where the host nation defeated South Africa 2‑0. Julian Quinones scored in the 9th minute and Raul Jimenez added a second in the 67th minute, while three red cards were issued during the match. Official attendance was reported above 85,000 spectators.

Early matches also saw other hosts win: Canada drew 1‑1 with Bosnia, the United States beat Paraguay 4‑1, and South Korea overcame the Czech Republic 2‑1. The schedule features high‑profile group‑stage fixtures such as Brazil versus Morocco on 14 June and Norway versus France on 26 June. The competition will continue through the knockout phase starting on 28 June, culminating with the final on 19 July in New Jersey.

FIFA faced criticism over visibly empty sections in some stadiums, notably the Guadalajara venue, prompting the federation to argue that official ticket scans, not camera footage, accurately reflect attendance figures.