The opening match of the 2026 World Cup takes place tonight, with Mexico facing South Africa in Group A. The game marks the start of the tournament, which is being co-hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
Match details and kick-off time
- Fixture: Mexico vs. South Africa (Group A)
- Date: Thursday, June 11
- Kick-off time: 8pm BST
- Venue: Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
How to watch in the UK
The match will be broadcast live on ITV1, with coverage starting at 7.50pm BST. The opening ceremony will be shown from 6.15pm. Fans can also stream the game live on ITVX via mobile, tablet, smart TV, or desktop with a free account.
Group A context
Mexico and South Africa are joined in Group A by South Korea and the Czech Republic. Both teams will be eager to secure points in what is expected to be a highly competitive group. Mexico qualified automatically as co-hosts, while South Africa earned their place by topping a tough qualifying group ahead of Nigeria.
Quotes from the managers
Javier Aguirre (Mexico manager): "I want players who feel proud to compete—players who give everything for their country on the pitch. If they play well and offer versatility, even better. But above all, they must be genuinely eager to represent Mexico."
Hugo Broos (South Africa manager): "You know, it will be a special and fantastic experience for us because my players have never played in this kind of situation before. It will be very important for us to stick to our game plan and not be distracted by what is happening in the stands. We all know there will be thousands of Mexican supporters inside the stadium and maybe only a few South Africans."
