Mexico came into the 2026 FIFA World Cup carrying the weight of a nation’s expectations, and on Thursday night, they delivered everything their fans had been waiting for.
The biggest World Cup in history had its opening night. And it was exactly as loud, dramatic and emotional as anyone could have hoped.
Before a ball was kicked, Shakira took to the stage to perform the official World Cup song “Dai Dai” alongside Burna Boy.
Legendary Mexican mariachi artist Alejandro Fernández sang the host nation’s national anthem to a crowd that had been waiting for this moment for years.
The ceremony was a warm-up act for what was to follow on the pitch.
The Estadio Azteca became the first stadium in history to host the opening match of three separate World Cups — having previously done so in 1970 and 1986.
On both those occasions the game ended in a draw. Mexico made sure 2026 was different.
With a capacity crowd of 80,824 roaring them on, Mexico beat South Africa 2-0, scoring in each half to open their World Cup campaign with a perfect three points.
Julián Quiñones, a 29-year-old forward born in Colombia who chose to represent Mexico internationally, opened the scoring with a sharp diagonal run and finish that sent the Azteca into delirium.
Raúl Jiménez added the second to make the result secure and was mobbed by teammates in front of a stadium that has witnessed some of football’s greatest ever moments.
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Quiñones was one of six Mexico starters making their World Cup debut on the night, a new generation stepping onto the biggest stage for the very first time.
For a squad that has been rebuilding since the disappointment of Qatar 2022, Thursday night felt like the start of something real.
The match had its chaos too. Three red cards were shown across the contest, two for South Africa and one for Mexico, turning the second half into a tense battle.
But Mexico never looked like letting the lead slip. They were organised, physical and clinical when it mattered.
Behind the veil
Outside the stadium, a different story was unfolding.
Protesters marched on streets near the Azteca, raising awareness of Mexico’s missing persons crisis demanding government action on the over 130,000 people still unaccounted for across the country.
Football and reality, as always, existing side by side.
Mexico, who suffered a painful group stage exit at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, will face South Korea on Thursday in Guadalajara.
Three points on the board. The Azteca roaring. El Tri are back, and this time, they mean business.
