Alexander Sørloth backs Raul Jimenez at 6/4 for Mexico opener
alexander sørloth is priced at 6/4 to score anytime for Mexico against South Africa in the 2026 World Cup opener at Estadio Azteca. Mexico enters the first of 104 matches unbeaten, and the market is leaning on Jimenez’s form and record in the spotlight of Group A.
Estadio Azteca Opens the 2026 World Cup
The tournament starts at Estadio Azteca with Mexico and South Africa in the first match of the expanded 48-team World Cup. Group A also includes the Czech Republic and South Korea, so Mexico’s opening result lands early in a section that will quickly start to sort itself out.
Mexico has not lost its opening match at a men's World Cup since a defeat to Norway in 1994. That run gives Jimenez and Javier Aguirre a familiar edge to protect on home soil, where the opener carries more weight than a normal group game because it sets the tone for the section.
Jimenez Form and Price
Jimenez, 35, arrives with numbers that explain why he is the betting focus. He scored nine goals and added three assists for Fulham in the 2025-26 Premier League season, then scored in Mexico’s 5-1 victory over Serbia in the final warm-up match.
The 6/4 price reflects that recent stretch, not just reputation. Mexico also won its first CONCACAF Nations League title in 2025 with Jimenez playing a central role, so the opener gives him a chance to carry club form and international output into the biggest stage of the year.
Jimenez’s Return to Estadio Azteca
Jimenez’s path makes the wager more than a simple form play. He suffered a horrific skull fracture while playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020, and the recent passing of his father adds another layer of significance to the tournament for him.
That gives the opener a sharper edge than the odds alone show. Mexico is asking its striker to deliver in the first match of a 104-game tournament, and a goal against South Africa would put both the host nation and the 35-year-old forward on the front foot in Group A.
