The 2026 World Cup kicked off in spectacular fashion at Mexico City Stadium, with a vibrant opening ceremony featuring Shakira and Burna Boy before Mexico's El Tri secured a convincing 2-0 victory over South Africa's Bafana Bafana.
Opening Ceremony Highlights
Fireworks lit up the sky as the ceremony began. Mexican fans, many in traditional dress and spanning all ages, filled the stadium with joy. Performers included J Balvin, Andrea Bocelli, and Ejae, who performed the official FIFA anthem 'DNA'. Shakira, dubbed the 'Queen of the World Cup', debuted her new single 'Dai Dai' with Burna Boy. Vendors at the Central de Abasto market watched the ceremony on screens, while fans captured moments as FIFA President Gianni Infantino held the trophy alongside Salma Hayek.
The Match Unfolds
After the ceremony, the players waited in the tunnel before taking the pitch. Mexico's Carlos Acevedo, Guillermo Ochoa, Raúl Jiménez, Roberto Alvarado, and Julián Quiñones sang the national anthem, echoed by fans at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.
Just nine minutes in, Julián Quiñones capitalized on a defensive error to fire past South Africa's goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, sparking celebrations among fans at the LA Memorial Coliseum. The second half saw South Africa's Yaya Sithole sent off for a foul on Brian Gutiérrez. Raúl Jiménez then headed home from close range just after the hour mark, his first World Cup goal. With five minutes left, Themba Zwane received a second red card for slapping Roberto Alvarado. In injury time, Mexico's César Montes was also shown a red card for a foul on Khuliso Mudau, but Mexico held on for victory.
Celebration
Mexico's players celebrated with their fans after the final whistle, marking a winning start to their World Cup campaign.
