The countdown to the 2026 World Cup is underway and June 11 will be the date that the world of football has marked on the calendar. The opening match will be played at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, one of the most emblematic venues in the history of the World Cups, where the Mexican National Team will face South Africa in a duel full of history and symbolism.
The largest tournament in the history of football starts in the perfect setting, in a stadium that will become the first to host three World Cup openings after the 1970 and 1986 editions.
The historical coincidence is inevitable. 16 years ago, on June 11, 2010, Mexico and South Africa also opened a World Cup, the one held in African territory. At Soccer City in Johannesburg, both teams tied 1-1 in a match remembered for Siphiwe Tshabalala’s spectacular goal, one of the most iconic moments in the opening ceremonies of the World Cups.
The opening day will not end with that match. Later, at 8:00 PM (local time), South Korea will face the Czech Republic at the Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, Jalisco, completing a doubleheader that will mark the official start of the largest World Cup in history.
The data from the opening match
- Date: Wednesday June 11, 2026
- Guatemala Time: 1:00 PM
- Game: Mexico vs. South Africa
- Stadium: Azteca Stadium, Mexico City, Mexico
- Ability: 87,000 spectators
- Historical data: It will be the third World Cup opening match at the Azteca after 1970 and 1986
A World Cup that returns to its traditional calendar
Unlike Qatar 2022, which was held between November and December due to the climatic conditions of the Arab country, the 2026 World Cup recovers the traditional summer calendar that accompanied the World Cup for decades. The last time a World Cup tournament began on June 11 was in England 1966, when the English team opened the tournament against Uruguay at Wembley.
With 48 teams, 104 matches and 16 stadiums distributed in three countries, the 2026 World Cup promises to be the largest sporting event in history. The final is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, closing a 39-day tournament that will begin at the Azteca with the roar of the Mexican fans and the excitement of an opening match that already has history before it is played.