Mexico and South Africa are set to face off in the 2026 FIFA World Cup opener at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

Match Details

The match is scheduled to kick off at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT. Mexico, ranked 14th in the world, is favored to win against South Africa, ranked 60th.

Mexico’s squad features veterans like Raul Jimenez, Julián Quiñones, and Luis Chavez, as well as young players like Gilberto Mora and Brian Gutierrez. South Africa’s team, on the other hand, is not as talented, but young center-back Mbekezeli Mbozaki could be a breakout player to watch.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is being hosted by three countries: Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The tournament features 48 teams competing in various cities across the three host nations.

Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.