The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins today with Mexico vs South Africa in Group A at Estadio Azteca-Thursday 11 June 2026, Day of 162/365

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On 11 June 2010, host nation South Africa opened the World Cup against Mexico at what is now known as FNB Stadium. In the 55th minute, Siphiwe Tshabalala scored one of the most iconic goals in World Cup history, blasting a left-footed shot into the top corner after a swift counterattack. The goal sparked celebrations across South Africa and became a defining moment of the tournament.

However, South Africa could not hold on for victory. Mexico captain Rafael Márquez equalized in the 79th minute, and the match finished 1–1. Despite earning a valuable point, South Africa ultimately became the first host nation in World Cup history to be eliminated in the group stage.

Now, exactly 16 years later, the story comes full circle as South Africa and Mexico meet again in the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, this time with Mexico as the host nation and the venue shifted to Estadio Azteca. The fixture is effectively a “reverse” of the famous 2010 opener: the same teams, the same opening-day spotlight, but with home advantage now belonging to Mexico.

For many South African fans, Tshabalala’s strike remains one of the most cherished moments in the country’s sporting history—a goal that transcended the result and became a symbol of national pride during the first World Cup held on African soil.

Kick-off time

  • Mexico City: 1:00 PM (local time)
  • GMT/UTC: 7:00 PM
  • Kigali, Rwanda (CAT): 9:00 PM 
  • London (BST): 8:00 PM
  • Pretoria, South Africa (SAST): 9:00 PM
  • US Eastern Time (ET): 3:00 PM

How to watch

South Africa

  • SuperSport
  • SportyTV
  • New World TV

United States

  • FOX
  • Telemundo
  • Universo
  • Streaming on FOX One, Tubi, Peacock, YouTube TV, and DirecTV Stream

United Kingdom

  • ITV1
  • ITVX streaming

Mexico

  • TUDN
  • Canal 5
  • Canal 9
  • Las Estrellas
  • ViX

Match snapshot

  • Tournament opener and first match of Group A.
  • Mexico are one of the co-hosts and enter the game ranked higher and backed by a large home crowd.
  • The teams also met in the opening match of the 2010 World Cup, drawing 1–1.

Opening ceremony

The opening ceremony is scheduled before kick-off and is expected to feature performances by Shakira, J Balvin, and Tyla.

For viewers in Rwanda: tune in at 9:00 PM CAT tonight.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is being hosted by United States, Canada, and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July 2026. It is the first World Cup with 48 teams divided into 12 groups (A–L)

Groups

N0 Group Teams
1 A Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czechia
2 B Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland
3 C Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
4 D United States, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey
5 E Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
6 F Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia
7 G Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
8 H Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
9 I France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway
10 J Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
11 K Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia
12 L England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama

Key Dates

  • Opening Match: 11 June 2026
  • Mexico vs South Africa
  • Venue: Estadio Azteca
  • Group Stage: 11–27 June 2026
  • Round of 32: 28 June–3 July 2026
  • Round of 16: 4–7 July 2026
  • Quarter-finals: 9–11 July 2026
  • Semi-finals: 14–15 July 2026
  • Third-place Match: 18 July 2026
  • Final: 19 July 2026 at MetLife Stadium

Host Cities

Mexico

  • Mexico City
  • Guadalajara
  • Monterrey

Canada

  • Toronto
  • Vancouver

United States

  • New York / New Jersey
  • Los Angeles
  • Dallas
  • Houston
  • Miami
  • Atlanta
  • Philadelphia
  • Seattle
  • Kansas City
  • Boston
  • San Francisco Bay Area

Today’s opener (11 June 2026): Mexico vs South Africa, 9:00 PM CAT (Rwanda/South Africa time).

Thursday, June 11

  • Group A: Mexico vs South Africa, kick-off 8pm – Mexico City, Mexico

Friday, June 12

  • Group A: South Korea vs Czech Republic, kick-off 3am – Zapopan, Mexico
  • Group B: Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina, kick-off 8pm – Toronto, Canada

Saturday, June 13

  • Group D: USA vs Paraguay, kick-off 2am – Los Angeles, USA
  • Group B: Qatar vs Switzerland, kick-off 8pm – Santa Clara, USA
  • Group C: Brazil vs Morocco, kick-off 11pm – New Jersey, USA

Sunday, June 14

  • Group C: Haiti vs Scotland, kick-off 2am – Foxborough, USA
  • Group D: Australia vs Turkey, kick-off 5am – Vancouver, Canada
  • Group E: Germany vs Curacao, kick-off 6pm – Houston, USA
  • Group F: Netherlands vs Japan, kick-off 9pm – Arlington, USA

 

 

Scotland’s World Cup Group C games

  • Haiti vs Scotland – Sunday June 14, Boston, 2am (UK time)
  • Scotland vs Morocco – Friday June 19, Boston, 11pm (UK time)
  • Scotland vs Brazil – Wednesday June 24, Miami, 11pm (UK time)

Monday, June 15

  • Group E: Ivory Coast vs Ecuador, kick-off 12am – Philadelphia, USA
  • Group F: Sweden vs Tunisia, kick-off 3am – Guadalupe, Mexico
  • Group H: Spain vs Cape Verde, kick-off 5pm – Atlanta, USA
  • Group G: Belgium vs Egypt, kick-off 8pm – Seattle, USA
  • Group H: Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay, kick-off 11pm – Miami, USA

Tuesday, June 16

  • Group G: Iran vs New Zealand, kick-off 2am – Los Angeles, USA
  • Group I: France vs Senegal, kick-off 8pm – New Jersey, USA
  • Group I: Iraq vs Norway, kick-off 11pm – Foxborough, USA

Wednesday, June 17

  • Group J: Argentina vs Algeria, kick-off 2am – Kansas City, USA
  • Group J: Austria vs Jordan, kick-off 5am – Santa Clara, USA
  • Group K: Portugal vs DR Congo, kick-off 6pm – Houston, USA
  • Group L: England vs Croatia, kick-off 9pm – Arlington, USA

England’s World Cup Group L games

  • England vs Croatia – Wednesday June 17, Dallas, 9pm (UK time)
  • England vs Ghana – Tuesday June 23, Boston, 9pm (UK time)
  • Panama vs England – Saturday June 27, New York-New Jersey, 10pm (UK time)

Thursday, June 18

  • Group L: Ghana vs Panama, kick-off 12am – Toronto, Canada
  • Group K: Uzbekistan vs Colombia, kick-off 3am – Mexico City, Mexico
  • Group A: Czech Republic vs South Africa, kick-off 5pm – Atlanta, USA
  • Group B: Switzerland vs Bosnia & Herzegovina, kick-off 8pm – Los Angeles, USA
  • Group B: Canada vs Qatar, kick-off 11pm – Vancouver, Canada

Friday, June 19

  • Group A: Mexico vs South Korea, kick-off 2am – Zapopan, Mexico
  • Group D: USA vs Australia, kick-off 8pm – Seattle, USA
  • Group C: Scotland vs Morocco, kick-off 11pm – Foxborough, USA

Saturday, June 20

  • Group C: Brazil vs Haiti, kick-off 1.30am – Philadelphia, USA
  • Group D: Turkey vs Paraguay, kick-off 4am – Santa Clara, USA
  • Group A: Netherlands vs Sweden, kick-off 6pm – Houston, USA
  • Group E: Germany vs Ivory Coast, kick-off 9pm – Toronto, Canada

Sunday, June 21

  • Group E: Ecuador vs Curacao, kick-off 1am – Kansas City, USA
  • Group F: Tunisia vs Japan, kick-off 5am – Guadalupe, Mexico
  • Group H: Spain vs Saudi Arabia, kick-off 5pm – Atlanta, USA
  • Group G: Belgium vs Iran, kick-off 8pm – Los Angeles, USA
  • Group H: Uruguay vs Cape Verde, kick-off 11pm – Miami, USA

Monday, June 22

  • Group G: New Zealand vs Egypt, kick-off 2am – Vancouver, Canada
  • Group J: Argentina vs Austria, kick-off 6pm – Arlington, USA
  • Group I: France vs Iraq, kick-off 10pm – Philadelphia, USA

Tuesday, June 23

  • Group I: Norway vs Senegal, kick-off 1am – Toronto, Canada
  • Group J: Jordan vs Algeria, kick-off 4am – Santa Clara, USA
  • Group K: Portugal vs Uzbekistan, kick-off 6pm – Houston, USA
  • Group L: England vs Ghana, kick-off 9pm – Foxborough, USA

Wednesday, June 24

  • Group L: Panama vs Croatia, kick-off 12am – Foxborough, USA
  • Group K: Colombia vs DR Congo, kick-off 3am – Zapopan, Mexico
  • Group B: Switzerland vs Canada, kick-off 8pm – Vancouver, Canada
  • Group B: Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Qatar, kick-off 8pm – Seattle, USA
  • Group C: Morocco vs Haiti, kick-off 11pm – Atlanta, USA
  • Group C: Scotland vs Brazil, kick-off 11pm – Miami, USA

Thursday, June 25

  • Group A: South Africa vs South Korea, kick-off 2am – Guadalupe, Mexico
  • Group A: Czech Republic vs Mexico, kick-off 2am – Mexico City, Mexico
  • Group E: Curacao vs Ivory Coast, kick-off 9pm – Philadelphia, USA
  • Group E: Ecuador vs Germany, kick-off 9pm – New Jersey, USA

Friday, June 26

  • Group F: Tunisia vs Netherlands, kick-off 12am – Kansas City, USA
  • Group F: Japan vs Sweden, kick-off 12am – Arlington, USA
  • Group D: Turkey vs USA, kick-off 3am – Los Angeles, USA
  • Group D: Paraguay vs Australia, kick-off 3am – Santa Clara, USA
  • Group I: Norway vs France, kick-off 8pm – Foxborough, USA
  • Group I: Senegal vs Iraq, kick-off 8pm – Toronto, Canada

Saturday, June 27

  • Group H: Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia, kick-off 1am – Houston, USA
  • Group H: Uruguay vs Spain, kick-off 1am – Zapopan, Mexico
  • Group G: New Zealand vs Belgium, kick-off 4am – Vancouver, Canada
  • Group G: Egypt vs Iran, kick-off 4am – Seattle, USA
  • Group L: Panama vs England, kick-off 10pm – New Jersey, USA
  • Group L: Croatia vs Ghana, kick-off 10pm – Philadelphia, USA

Sunday, June 28

  • Group K: Colombia vs Portugal, kick-off 12.30am – Miami, USA
  • Group K: DR Congo vs Uzbekistan, kick-off 12.30am – Atlanta, USA
  • Group J: Algeria vs Austria, kick-off 3am – Kansas City, USA
  • Group J: Jordan vs Argentina, kick-off 3am – Arlington, USA
  • Round of 32 – Match 73: Group A runners-up vs Group B runners-up, kick-off 8pm – Los Angeles, USA

Monday, June 29

  • Round of 32 – Match 76: Group C winners vs Group F runners-up, kick-off 6pm – Houston, USA
  • Round of 32 – Match 74: Group E winners vs Group A/B/C/D/F third place, kick-off 9.30pm – Foxborough, USA

Tuesday, June 30

  • Round of 32 – Match 75: Group F winners vs Group C runners-up, kick-off 2am – Guadalupe, Mexico
  • Round of 32 – Match 78: Group E runners-up vs Group I runners-up, kick-off 6pm – Arlington, USA
  • Round of 32 – Match 77: Group I winners vs Group C/D/F/G/H third place, kick-off 10pm – New Jersey, USA

Wednesday, July 1

  • Round of 32 – Match 79: Group A winners vs Group C/E/F/H/I third place, kick-off 2am – Mexico City, Mexico
  • Round of 32 – Match 80: Group L winners vs Group E/H/I/J/K third place, kick-off 5pm – Atlanta, USA
  • Round of 32 – Match 82: Group G winners vs Group A/E/H/I/J third place, kick-off 9pm – Seattle, USA

Thursday, July 2

  • Round of 32 – Match 81: Group D winners vs Group B/E/F/I/J third place, kick-off 1am – Santa Clara, USA
  • Round of 32 – Match 84: Group H winners vs Group J runners-up, kick-off 8pm – Los Angeles, USA

Friday, July 3

  • Round of 32 – Match 83: Group K runners-up vs Group L runners-up, kick-off 12am – Toronto, Canada
  • Round of 32 – Match 85: Group B winners vs Group E/F/G/I/J third place, kick-off 4am – Vancouver, Canada
  • Round of 32 – Match 88: Group D runners-up vs Group G runners-up, kick-off 7pm – Arlington, USA
  • Round of 32 – Match 86: Group J winners vs Group H runners-up, kick-off 11pm – Miami, USA

Saturday, July 4

  • Round of 32 – Match 87: Group K winners vs Group D/E/I/J/L third place, kick-off 2.30am – Kansas City, USA
  • Round of 16 – Match 90: Match 73 winners vs Match 75 winners, kick-off 6pm – Houston, USA
  • Round of 16 – Match 89: Match 74 winners vs Match 77 winners, kick-off 10pm – Philadelphia, USA

Sunday, July 5

  • Round of 16 – Match 91: Match 76 winners vs Match 78 winners, kick-off 9pm – New Jersey, USA

Monday, July 6

  • Round of 16 – Match 92: Match 79 winners vs Match 80 winners, kick-off 1am – Mexico City, Mexico
  • Round of 16 – Match 93: Match 83 winners vs Match 84 winners, kick-off 8pm – Arlington, USA

Tuesday, July 7

  • Round of 16 – Match 94: Match 81 winners vs Match 82 winners, kick-off 1am – Seattle, USA
  • Round of 16 – Match 95: Match 86 winners vs Match 88 winners, kick-off 5pm – Atlanta, USA
  • Round of 16 – Match 96: Match 85 winners vs Match 87 winners, kick-off 9pm – Vancouver, Canada

Thursday, July 9

  • Quarter-final – Match 97: Match 89 winners vs Match 90 winners, kick-off 9pm – Foxborough, USA

Friday, July 10

  • Quarter-final – Match 98: Match 93 winners vs Match 94 winners, kick-off 8pm – Los Angeles, USA

Saturday, July 11

  • Quarter-final – Match 99: Match 91 winners vs Match 92 winners, kick-off 10pm – Miami, USA

Sunday, July 12

  • Quarter-final – Match 100: Match 95 winners vs Match 96 winners, kick-off 2am – Kansas City, USA

Tuesday, July 14

  • Semi-final – Match 101: Match 97 winners vs Match 98 winners, kick-off 8pm – Arlington, USA

Wednesday, July 15

  • Semi-final – Match 102: Match 99 winners vs Match 100 winners, kick-off 8pm – Atlanta, USA

Saturday, July 18

  • Third Place Playoff – Match 103: Match 101 losers vs Match 102 losers, kick-off 10pm – Miami, USA

Sunday, July 19

  • Final – Match 104: Match 101 winners vs Match 102 winners, kick-off 8pm – New Jersey, USA

“Success begins the day you stop waiting for opportunity and start creating it.”
— Dr. Havugimana Alexis (2026)

  1. “Success begins the day you stop waiting for opportunity and start creating it.”
  2. “A strong future is built by ordinary actions repeated with extraordinary discipline.”
  3. “Education gives you knowledge; character teaches you how to use it.”
  4. “The greatest investment is not money—it is the development of people.”
  5. “Dreams become reality when commitment is stronger than excuses.”
  6. “A community grows when its people choose service over selfishness.”
  7. “Every challenge carries a lesson; every lesson carries a new opportunity.”
  8. “Poverty is not defeated by hope alone but by knowledge, effort, and persistence.”
  9. “Your journey may be difficult, but difficulty is often the path to greatness.”
  10. “The value of a leader is measured by the lives improved, not the titles earned.”
  11. “Do not fear slow progress; fear standing still while time moves forward.”
  12. “A person who learns every day remains young in wisdom and rich in possibilities.”
  13. “The future belongs to those who prepare for it before it arrives.”
  14. “When you uplift one person, you strengthen an entire society.”
  15. “Hard work plants the seed; patience helps it grow; perseverance brings the harvest.”

— Dr. Havugimana Alexis (2026)

END

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