Mexico became the first host nation to win its opening match on the first day of a World Cup it co-hosted with the United States and Canada.
The 2-0 victory over South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City gave the tri-nation hosts an ideal start to the 2026 tournament. Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez supplied the goals in front of a home crowd celebrating football’s return to one of its most iconic stadiums.
Host nations historically face enormous pressure to perform in curtain-raising fixtures that set the emotional tone for weeks of competition. Mexico met that expectation by securing three points while avoiding the embarrassment of an opening-day loss on home soil.
The United States and Canada, the other co-hosts, were scheduled for their own opening commitments across the sprawling tournament calendar. Mexico’s early success offered a benchmark for how the other hosts might fare when their turns arrived.
Estadio Azteca’s atmosphere amplified the occasion as fans celebrated a result that entered World Cup record books for host-nation achievement on day one.
Previous host nations have sometimes stumbled in opening fixtures under the weight of expectation, making Mexico’s clean-sheet win a notable exception. The result gave the Mexican camp confidence before facing remaining Group A opponents in the weeks ahead.
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Sources:
https://www.today.com/news/sports/live-blog/world-cup-2026-opening-ceremony-mexico-shakira-live-updates-rcna347915