The World Cup 2026 has finally arrived and was kickstarted with a bang as a glitzy opening ceremony in Mexico City followed by the first match of the tournament – Mexico v South Africa.
Music icons Shakira and Burna Boy headlined a star-studded opening ceremony at Estadio Azteca – the first of three at the tournament, with the US and Canada also hosting their own ceremonies tomorrow.
Once the stage has been removed and the confetti cleared, attention will turn to the on-pitch action with a Mexico side led by Javier Aguirre and harbouring hopes of a deep run on home soil taking on Group A underdogs South Africa, who are at the World Cup for the first time since hosting in 2010.
In that tournament, this exact fixture was also the opening contest and Siphiwe Tshabalala sent home fans wild with a 55th-minute goal before Rafael Marquez grabbed a 79th-minute equaliser to spare Mexican blushes. Will we be in for a repeat this evening?
Follow all the action from the opening ceremony before co-hosts Mexico face South Africa below:
South Africa are here…
… and they were singing their way into the Azteca earlier on.
The ceremony in pictures
The ceremony in pictures
Four World Cups, first start
This is Raul Jimenez’s fourth World Cup but all previous appearances came off the bench.
He now has the weight of his country on his shoulders with El Tri hoping their main goalscorer can produce the goods on the biggest stage of all.
World Cup opening ceremony
The first of three opening ceremonies for this World Cup has come and gone.
Shakira and Burna Boy were the highlight for sure.
Quite aptly Shakira’s previous performance at a World Cup came in 2010 which began with the same fixture as this tournament.
Mexico vs South Africa is coming up…
Ceremony completed
That’s the ceremony out of the way. It was colourful, co-ordinated and sounded alright. The fans received it well from what we can see and its conclusion means we can now start focusing on the football with an hour to go until kick-off!
Mexico will line up in what looks like a 4-3-3 but there is no place for teenage star Mora from the off. South Africa, meanwhile, have named five defenders – making it clear how they intend to approach the match.
Mexico opening ceremony
Here’s Shakira!
Aong with Burna Boy they’re performing what will probably become the anthem of this World Cup.
It’s called Dai Dai.
Shakira appears
J Balvin is on now, performing a version of I Like It, with Shakira up next to what sounds like huge cheers from the stands.
As these ceremonies go it’s been solid so far.
Mexico opening ceremony
Mana, a Mexican pop rock band formed in 1981, began proceedings with the first musical performance of the night.
They are followed by Danny Ocean, a Venezuelan singer, songwriter who began his career in 2009 on YouTube.
Teams confirmed
Mexico: Rangel; Montes, Vasquez, Reyes, Gallardo; Lira, Fidalgo, Gutierrez; Alvarado, Jimenez, Quinones.
South Africa: Williams; Modiba, Mbokazi, Sibisi, Mudau, Okon; Mokoena, Stihole, Adams; Foster, Rayners.
‘Football unites us all’
“Mexico receives you with smiles from our heart, we’re a nation of diversity,” says the voiceover as some of those on the pitch bang small drums and walk around in peculiar formation.
“The World Cup is a beacon of shared passion,” apparently. “Football unites us all,” seemingly. Well, unless one of the other co-hosts decides to take a dislike to you.
Alan Smith11 June 2026 18:45NewerOlder