LIVE LIVE UPDATES: Mexico and South Africa face off in World Cup opener
First day of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is kicking off
Take a look at San Pedro Square in San Jose where the city plans to air all 104 FIFA World Cup matches for free. Mexico is opening up the tournament with their first match against South Africa.
MEXICO CITY - The largest World Cup in tournament history kicks off Thursday with co-host Mexico taking on South Africa in the opening match.
Amid escalating protests and social tensions in Mexico’s capital, more than 80,000 fans were making their way to Mexico City Stadium — better known as Azteca Stadium. It got a much-needed facelift ahead of the 48-team tournament that Mexico is hosting alongside the United States and Canada.
The iconic venue will be the first stadium to host three World Cup openers — after doing so in the 1970 and 1986 tournaments.
How to watch today’s World Cup matches: Thursday, June 11
We are getting underway with the FIFA World Cup today! Mexico takes on South Africa, while Korea faces Czechia.
Mexico seeks strong start against South Africa
It is the eighth opening match of a World Cup for the Mexicans, who had previously lost five and drawn the last two, including against South Africa in the 2010 World Cup.
South Africa is playing in its first World Cup since hosting the 2010 tournament. The Bafana Bafana also played in the 1998 and 2002 editions.
Mexico arrives with an eight-match unbeaten streak and has not lost since last November, when Paraguay beat them in a friendly.
Aguirre leads Mexican squad
The Mexican side is led by the 67-year-old coach Javier Aguirre, who is in his third stint with the national team.
Live updates:
11.52 a.m.
Full squads on the field for national anthems
Unlike at previous World Cups, the full squads of both teams will come out on the field for the national anthems.
Usually only the players in the starting lineup are on the field when the anthems are played.
FIFA has changed things around this time so that the substitutes can take part as well.
The players will be standing around the center circle facing each other during the anthems.
FIFA says it will "create a moment of unity, pride and emotion" for both the teams and the fans in the stadium.
11:51 a.m.
Party in the stands
The party is continuing inside Azteca Stadium.
Waving flags and wearing hats, costumes, and even body paint, thousands of people are dancing to every hit song that booms on the speakers.
The Mexican team is getting more cheers than the South African team, as expected with the home advantage.
11:48 a.m.
American-born Gutierrez gets the start for Mexico
Midfielder Brian Gutierrez will become the first Mexican American player to start in a World Cup for Mexico’s national team.
The 22-year-old, who was born in Berwyn, Illinois, played for the United States but did not have to apply for a country switch because he had only played friendlies for the U.S. against Venezuela and Costa Rica in January 2025.
Gutierrez and midfielder Obed Vargas are the two Mexican American players on Mexico´s World Cup roster.
The last time that Mexico selected two Mexican American players was at Brazil 2014, when Miguel Ponce and Isaac Brizuela were chosen, but neither saw playing time.
11:44 a.m.
Fans sway to the sounds of Danny Ocean
Danny Ocean has performed live "Partidazo," his collaboration on the "Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album."
Ocean was surrounded by dancers wearing a modern version of the traditional dress from the Mexican state of Jalisco modified to have hoodies on the top.
The Venezuelan singer, songwriter, and producer became known internationally for his hit "Me rehuso," which became an anthem of the Venezuelan diaspora.
Since then, he has released songs such as "Dembow," "Imagínate," "Mónaco" and "Fuera del mercado. He has also collaborated with artists such as Alejandro Sanz, Karol G, Sech, Camilo and Justin Quiles.
11.33 a.m.
Mexico City’s stadium is more than a mile high
One of Mexico’s biggest home-field advantages in its World Cup opener may be that it will be played at an exceptionally high altitude that South Africa’s players might struggle to adjust to.
The stadium — named Mexico City Stadium for the World Cup but known far and wide as Estadio Azteca or Azteca Stadium — is 7,200 feet (2,195 meters) above sea level, which is more than a mile high.
Mexico also faces the Czech Republic there on June 24. There is a round of 32 game set to take place there on June 30 and a round of 16 game there on July 5.
11:20 a.m.
Mexico manager opts for youth over experience in goal
One of the great mysteries for the Mexican national team ahead of the World Cup was whether coach Javier Aguirre was going to use veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa in the opener.
He went with Raul Rangel instead.
The 26-year-old Rangel has been the starter the past eight matches, but he will be playing his first official match for the team on Thursday.
The 2026 World Cup is the sixth for Ochoa, but he played in just three: those in Brazil, Russia and Qatar.
10:55 a.m.
Police block off protesting families of Mexico’s 130,000 missing
Dozens of police officers have formed a blockade, as protesters hoping to shed light on the plight of Mexico’s 130,000 missing people arrived at the secured area outside of Azteca Stadium.
Some of the protesters are throwing flower petals at the police. One had attached a photo of her missing child to her green Mexico team jersey.
Family are hoping to use the World Cup to call attention to their situation.
In recent weeks, images of the disappeared have been seen at demonstrations and on street posters. They have also featured in a virtual World Cup album that, instead of highlighting soccer players, shows the smiling faces of missing men and women wearing the Mexican national team’s green jersey, along with their names and when and where they were last seen.
"The main goal is for the world to see that a crisis of impunity persists," said Jorge Verástegui, who has been searching for his brother for 17 years. "To show the other side of Mexico that it is not a party, but a tragedy."
10:43 a.m.
Ronaldinho is swarmed by fans upon entering Azteca
Brazilian legend Ronaldinho just entered the Estadio Azteca for the opening match of the World Cup.
Ronaldinho appeared in two World Cups for Brazil and scored a stunning free-kick against England en route to winning the tournament in 2002.
The Brazilian icon was shepherded into the stadium through the media entrance and was immediately swarmed by fans when they caught a glimpse of him.
Ronaldinho scored 33 goals for the national team during his career. He is now a FIFA ambassador for the 2026 tournament.