South Africa face Mexico in FIFA World Cup 2026 opener as tournament kicks off in historic rematch

Staff Reporter

THE FIFA World Cup 2026 gets underway today with South Africa at the centre of the opening day action, as Bafana Bafana face co-hosts Mexico in a highly anticipated Group A clash in Mexico City, with kickoff set for 21:00 Namibia time, while Korea Republic meet Czechia in the second fixture of the day in Guadalajara.

The tournament, jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, begins with a symbolic rematch of the 2010 opening game, when South Africa hosted Mexico. This time, however, it is Mexico who will raise the curtain on the expanded 104-match global showpiece on home soil.