FIFA World Cup 2026: Mexico vs South Africa Opener

World Cup Draw

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11th with Mexico taking on South Africa at the legendary Azteca Stadium, host of the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals. This match is followed by South Korea facing a playoff winner.

The draw for the expanded 48-team tournament was a complex affair, with various geographical sub-clauses adding to the intrigue...

Mexico will kick off the 2026 World Cup against South Africa at the iconic Azteca Stadium on June 11th. This matchup is a repeat of their 2010 World Cup opener, which ended in a 1-1 draw. The Azteca Stadium, which hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals, will make history as the first venue to host three World Cup openers.

South Africa is making its fourth World Cup appearance and first since 2010, when they failed to advance past the group stage despite drawing with Mexico in the opening match. This time around, they'll face Mexico on home turf for their opponents, adding an extra layer of pressure and excitement to the game.

The United States and Canada, co-hosts alongside Mexico, will kick off their World Cup campaigns the next day. The US team will face Paraguay in Los Angeles, while Canada takes on a playoff winner, possibly Italy, in Toronto.

The draw for the expanded 48-team tournament was a complex affair, with various geographical sub-clauses adding to the intrigue. Despite the lengthy process, the ceremony was relatively short compared to the over-an-hour-long opening ceremony, which featured US President Donald Trump receiving the inaugural 'FIFA Peace Prize'.

Argentina and Brazil's Group Stage Matches

Defending champions Argentina will start their campaign against Algeria, Austria, and debutants Jordan in Group E. Meanwhile, five-times winners Brazil face Scotland, Morocco - semi-finalists in 2022, and Haiti in Group C.

Scotland is making its World Cup return after 26 years, while Haiti is looking to build on its sole appearance in 1974. These teams are eager to make their mark on the tournament.

France's first game will be against Senegal, a repeat of their 2002 World Cup opener, where Senegal pulled off a major upset, beating the then-defending champions 1-0. This match is sure to be intense, with Senegal looking to recreate the magic of their 2002 debut, and France seeking redemption.

Norway and the winner of the playoff between Iraq, Bolivia, and Suriname complete France's Group I. This group promises to be highly competitive, with Norway boasting talented players like Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard. England, on the other hand, will face Croatia, Panama, and Ghana in Group L, looking to bounce back from their 2018 semi-final loss to Croatia.

Curacao, with a population of 150,000, is making history as the smallest country to reach the World Cup finals. They'll face tough opponents in Germany, Ecuador, and Ivory Coast in Group E.

World number one-ranked Spain has a dream draw alongside debutants Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay in Group H.

The Netherlands is in Group F with Japan, Tunisia, and a playoff winner. Belgium will face Egypt, Iran, and New Zealand in Group G. Portugal is in Group K with debutants Uzbekistan, Colombia, and a playoff winner.

The stage is set. Who triumphs? 🏆@aramco | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/21qBVC6KlE

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 5, 2025

Teams outside the host groups, Mexico, Canada, and the US, will have to wait until Saturday to find out their venues and kickoff times. FIFA is optimizing the schedule for worldwide TV markets.

A new seeding system ensures top teams, Spain, Argentina, France, and England, won't meet until the semi-finals if they win their groups. This aims to create a more balanced competition.