Mexico Beats South Africa 2-0 in Mexique World Cup Opener
Mexico opened mexique with a 2-0 win over South Africa on Thursday at the Azteca Stadium, giving the tournament its first result in front of 80,000 spectators. The opening match of the 2026 World Cup came with a heavy security presence and a crowded city center, turning the kickoff into more than just a game.
Azteca Stadium crowd
Gianni Infantino presented the World Cup trophy to the crowd before the match, and the opening ceremony brought Shakira, Burna Boy, Andrea Bocelli and Ejae into the event program. The stadium was sold out, and Mexico used the home setting to take control of the opener against South Africa.
Mexico City crowd: “Peuples du monde, bienvenue au Mexique !”
Mexico City security
Hundreds of National Guard members, riot police officers and mounted police were deployed near the stadium as teachers on strike blocked part of Mexico City in recent days. The government also blocked access to the Zocalo with metal barriers, where a fan zone had been set up for 55,000 supporters.
That backdrop shaped the first of 104 matches in the tournament. The city had to manage the opening game, the crowd around the stadium and the larger draw of the center-city fan zone at the same time.
Arturo López on the win
After the match, spectator Arturo López said: “L’enthousiasme autour de la Coupe du monde est très fort. C’est un bon résultat pour tous les Mexicains, compte tenu du contexte politique dans le pays”. Scottish fan Sheree Toomes said near the stadium: “Nous voulons simplement nous plonger dans l’ambiance et découvrir toutes les activités, la musique et les animations”.
She added: “La police, l’armée, on ne voit pas ça au Royaume-Uni”.
