Mexico got the 2026 World Cup under way as they beat South Africa 2-0 in a match that saw three player sent off at the iconic Estadio Azteca.

The normal display of African unity in the early stages of a football World Cup was notably absent from social media as many fans from across the continent backed Mexico in the tournament's opening match against South Africa.

The 2026 World Cup gets underway on Thursday with Mexico hosting South Africa in the tournament’s opening fixture.

South Africa coach Hugo Broos became the oldest coach to manage a World Cup match when his team opened the 2026 World Cup against Mexico. He’s going to hold that record for mere hours. The 74-year-old Belgian broke a record that had stood for 16 years when Greece’s Otto Rehhagel became the oldest manager in tournament history in 2010 at the age of

South Africa is gearing up for its first FIFA World Cup run since hosting the tournament in 2010, when they step onto the pitch as part of Group A for this year’s event in North America. Bafana Bafana,

The right-back has warned his Repre team-mates that they must be prepared to "give their lives" to protect their goal in their upcoming World Cup clash against South Africa. The European side find themselves under immense pressure in Group A after a stumbling start to their campaign in North America.