Mexico City, June 11 -- The FIFA World Cup 2026 gets underway early Friday (IST) with co-hosts Mexico taking on South Africa in the opening Group A clash at the iconic Mexico City Stadium, marking the start of the biggest edition of the tournament featuring 104 matches.
The fixture revives memories of the 2010 World Cup opener in South Africa, when the two sides met in the tournament's first-ever match on African soil.
Mexico, led by coach Javier Aguirre, enter the match amid high expectations on home turf, with the experienced tactician describing the occasion as a "once-in-a-lifetime emotional moment" for his squad.
"I haven't experienced a greater thrill in 50 years of football than playing in a World Cup at home," Aguirre said on the...