The 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico kicks off: In the opening match, Mexico beats South Africa 2-0, with the next game being South Korea vs. Czech Republic.

On June 12, Beijing time, the 2026 FIFA World Cup began. The opening match saw hosts Mexico take on South Africa. After 90 minutes of fierce competition, the game was lopsided: Mexico, down to ten men, beat South Africa, who had nine, 2-0, earning their first victory. The match quality was poor, with excessive fouls and even a trio of red cards. This opening game was streamed live by Migu, and the viewing experience was quite good!

This World Cup is the 23rd edition in history and represents a new innovation by FIFA. For the first time, it is co-hosted by three nations—the United States, Canada, and Mexico—and the number of participating teams has been expanded to 48. This inevitably leads to more matches, giving fans more games to watch. However, there are concerns from outsiders that expansion will allow many weaker teams into the tournament, potentially resulting in numerous lopsided group-stage matches and a lower overall quality of play.

In 2026, the United States, Canada, and Mexico will hold three separate opening ceremonies, one in each country. According to the schedule, the first match of the tournament—the opener—took place at 3:00 AM Beijing time on June 12, featuring host Mexico against South Africa. It was the first World Cup meeting between the two teams in 16 years, held at the high-altitude Azteca Stadium (2,200 meters). Before the match, Mexico held an opening ceremony that was highly impressive, showcasing a series of high-tech displays.

As the match began, the opener between Mexico and South Africa officially kicked off. Mexico, with superior strength, was favored to win. South Africa seemed out of sorts early on, struggling with attacks and clearances, and holding onto the ball too long. They soon suffered a setback: in the 9th minute, Mexico launched an attack that breached South Africa's defense. South African player Sithole made a costly mistake, losing possession, and 29-year-old Saudi Pro League top scorer Quiñones scored to open the account—the first goal of this World Cup. The score remained 1-0 until halftime. After the break, in the 50th minute, Sithole committed a malicious foul on a Mexican player and received a red card—the first red card of the tournament—leaving South Africa with ten men and worsening their situation. Soon after, Mexico scored again: in the 67th minute, Jiménez headed the ball into South Africa's net, making it 2-0. With a two-goal lead, Mexico stopped attacking, drawing boos from home fans. South Africa then intensified their offense, putting Mexico under pressure and forcing them to concede a red card as well. Ultimately, Mexico won 2-0, keeping a clean sheet and taking all three points in their first match.

Looking at the result, the overall quality of the match was very poor. Mexico, being the stronger side, was expected to win, but it was excessive to stop attacking after taking the lead. As for South Africa, their performance was indeed baffling—they played slowly throughout, had poor defensive skills, and tried to show off with risky plays, so their loss was deserved.

Today, there is another match: South Korea vs. Czech Republic. South Korea is a regular participant in the World Cup, with their best result being a semifinal appearance in 2002. The Czech Republic, thanks to the expansion, returns to the World Cup after 20 years, qualifying from the highly competitive European zone. Looking ahead to this game, I believe South Korea's strength has declined significantly, and their attacking power is weak, especially since Son Heung-min's form has dropped. Therefore, South Korea is likely to lose. The match will kick off at 10:00 AM sharp, and we look forward to an exciting game!

By Sports Novel

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