In 48 hours the most expanded World Cup in history gets underway at one of football's most iconic venues. Mexico kick off against South Africa at the Estadio Azteca on Thursday, June 11 at 3:00 p.m. ET — the opening whistle of a tournament involving 48 nations, three host countries, and a full summer of football. Here is what to watch on Day 1.
The opening ceremony
Before a ball is kicked, FIFA stages its opening ceremony on the Azteca pitch in Mexico City. Expect a 30–40 minute celebration of Mexican culture, Latin American football heritage, and the co-hosting partnership between Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The Estadio Azteca is the only stadium to have hosted three World Cups — it staged the 1970 and 1986 finals and is now the setting for the 2026 opener, a level of football history no other ground on the planet can match.
Game 1 — Mexico vs South Africa (3:00 PM ET, Estadio Azteca)
Mexico enters Group A as the heavy favourite and the tournament's ceremonial host. The Azteca crowd, the altitude of Mexico City (2,240 metres above sea level), and El Tri's CONCACAF form all tilt this opener firmly in their favour. Manager Jaime Lozano has a settled side built on midfield creativity and pace on the flanks, and a home opening game is exactly the kind of fixture they have been building toward for years.
South Africa return to the World Cup for the first time since 2010, when they were the host nation. Striker Percy Tau leads their attack, but Bafana Bafana's real strength is defensive organisation and set-piece threat. Expect a compact low-block from coach Hugo Broos, with counter-attacks through Tau and the wide players as the primary plan. The altitude is a partial wildcard — South Africa regularly train at elevation and the advantage it gives Mexico may be less pronounced than in a sea-level match.
Mexico need three points to set the tone in Group A. Anything less opens the group up uncomfortably, especially with South Korea and Czechia both capable of taking points off El Tri later.
Game 2 — South Korea vs Czechia (10:00 PM ET, Estadio Akron, Zapopan)
The second Group A match follows at the Estadio Akron in Zapopan, outside Guadalajara. South Korea arrive with one of their stronger recent squads — a blend of experienced Premier League contributors and emerging domestic talents — and are likely fighting Mexico for one of the two guaranteed advancement spots.
Czechia return to consecutive World Cups after qualifying in 2022 and are a technically solid European side with attacking threat through Patrik Schick. The challenge is the heat and humidity of western Mexico, a climate that tends to reward the pressing, high-energy game South Korea plays rather than the ball-retention style Czechia prefer. This fixture often ends up being the one that decides who finishes second in Group A.
What Matchday 1 means in the 48-team format
The 2026 tournament uses a 12-group format with four teams per group. The top two from each group advance automatically, plus the eight best third-place finishers across all 12 groups. That means an opening-day draw is not a disaster — teams have two more group games to correct their position. But wins on Day 1 create the option to rotate and rest players for the lower-stakes Matchday 3, a tactical luxury that compounds across a long, hot summer.
History also shows that Matchday 1 results set the psychological temperature for the entire first week. Upsets on opening day — and there have been several memorable ones in recent tournaments — generate outsized narrative momentum and tend to define the early coverage cycle.
How to watch Matchday 1
In the United States, World Cup 2026 coverage is split between Fox Sports and FS1 in English and Telemundo and Peacock in Spanish. The Mexico vs South Africa opener is the marquee broadcast with full pre-match ceremony coverage. Streaming is available through the Fox Sports app and Peacock with a subscription. Kickoff times for both June 11 games:
- Mexico vs South Africa: 3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT — Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
- South Korea vs Czechia: 10:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM PT — Estadio Akron, Zapopan
FAQ
What is the first game of World Cup 2026? Mexico vs South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, kicking off at 3:00 PM ET on June 11, 2026, following the opening ceremony.
Who are the co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup? The United States, Canada, and Mexico — the first World Cup hosted by three nations simultaneously.
How many teams are in the 2026 World Cup? 48, the largest field in World Cup history, up from 32 in all previous tournaments.
How many games are in the group stage under the new format? Each team plays three group stage matches, same as before. The expansion from 32 to 48 teams adds more groups (12 instead of 8), not more games per team.
Where can I follow live scores? Track all Group A fixtures and the full tournament on Scorelisto's live soccer scores — updated in real time from kickoff to full time. Browse the blog for daily matchday previews and recaps through the group stage and beyond.