The 2026 World Cup gets underway on Thursday night as co-hosts Mexico take on South Africa in Group A at the Estadio Azteca
The 2026 World Cup kicks off on Thursday evening as co-hosts Mexico face South Africa in Group A at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. It marks the opening fixture of 104 matches in the newly expanded 48-team format, and also evokes memories of 2010, when Rafael Márquez equalised Siphiwe Tshabalala’s iconic opener in a 1-1 draw in Johannesburg.
The bookmakers have installed the hosts as overwhelming favourites at 2/5 with Betfred while South Africa are 8/1 outsiders with Sky Bet and a draw is priced at 3/1 with Paddy Power. Mexico have already entered the record books before kick-off, becoming the first nation to stage the men’s World Cup on three occasions.
Manager Javier Aguirre will guide El Tri at a World Cup for the third time across three different stints in charge. Reappointed in 2024, the 67 year old has inherited a squad eager to rectify their Qatar 2022 setback, when they failed to progress beyond the group stage for the first time since 1978.
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As co-hosts, Mexico bypassed CONCACAF qualifying and enter the tournament ranked 14th in the FIFA world rankings. Following victories in both the Nations League and the Gold Cup – securing the latter in July last year – their form has declined, concluding 2025 without a victory in their final six friendlies, reports the Mirror.
Their form has improved this year, though, with draws against Portugal and Belgium followed by three consecutive victories over Ghana, Australia and Serbia, including a 5-1 thrashing of Serbia in Toluca last Friday.
Mexico are also undefeated in their last seven World Cup opening matches stretching back to 1994, and they’re anticipated to be supported by a capacity crowd of approximately 83,000 on Thursday. Victory over South Africa would place them in a commanding position to compete for first place in Group A ahead of fixtures against South Korea and the Czech Republic.
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South Africa arrive for their fourth World Cup, returning to the competition for the first time since hosting it 16 years ago following unsuccessful qualification campaigns for 2014, 2018 and 2022.
Their path back came through a dramatic CAF qualifying conclusion with a 3-0 triumph over Rwanda in their final match, combined with Nigeria’s 4-0 win over group leaders Benin, enabling Bafana Bafana to finish top with 18 points from 10 matches – despite a three-point deduction for fielding an ineligible player in a home victory over Lesotho.
Belgian manager Hugo Broos, in charge since 2021, brings a squad ranked 60th globally and 11th in Africa, and South Africa are widely regarded as underdogs to advance from Group A. Since reaching the AFCON last 16 earlier this year, South Africa have gone four friendlies without a win, drawing and losing against Panama in March, before being held to a 0-0 stalemate by Nicaragua in late May.
Mexico vs South Africa Prediction
- Mexico to win and both teams to score – 10/3 ( Sky Bet )
- Raul Jimenez to score anytime – 7/5 ( Paddy Power )
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