By Kunle Solaja
Special Correspondent, en route to Vancouver and New York

As this reporter journeys across North America—from Vancouver on Canada’s Pacific coast to New York on the Atlantic seaboard—the countdown to the FIFA World Cup is almost over. As the tournament kicks off this Thursday, 11 June 2026, at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, football fans around the globe will witness more than just the opening match of the biggest World Cup in history.

They will be watching history repeat itself.

The opening fixture between Mexico and South Africa is a remarkable replay of the match that launched the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Johannesburg exactly 16 years ago, on the very same date—11 June. On that occasion, Siphiwe Tshabalala’s thunderous strike sent Soccer City into ecstasy before Rafael Marquez salvaged a 1-1 draw for Mexico. Sixteen years later, the same two nations meet again to raise the curtain on another World Cup.

The symbolism is striking. In 2010, South Africa became the first African nation to host the World Cup and opened the tournament against Mexico. In 2026, Mexico becomes the first country in history to host the World Cup three times and opens the tournament against South Africa.

Mexico and the Opening Match

No country is more closely associated with World Cup opening matches than Mexico.

According to World Cup records, Mexico will be appearing in the tournament’s opening match for the eighth time, more than any other nation. Their previous appearances came in 1930, 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1970, 2010 and now 2026.

The Estadio Azteca, meanwhile, enters football immortality as the first stadium ever to host three World Cup opening matches, having previously staged the tournament curtain-raisers in 1970 and 1986.

African Teams and World Cup Openers

African teams have traditionally had only limited involvement in opening matches.

Before South Africa’s appearance in 2010, African nations had featured only occasionally in opening-day encounters. The host nation traditionally opened the tournament in the early years, while from 1974 to 2002, the defending champions were guaranteed a place in the opening match. Since 2006, FIFA has reverted to the host-nation tradition.

As a result, African teams have appeared in opening matches mainly when drawn against hosts or when serving as hosts themselves. South Africa’s clash with Mexico in 2010 remains the most memorable African opening fixture because it marked the first World Cup ever staged on African soil.

Now, Bafana Bafana has become the only African team to feature in two World Cup opening matches, and remarkably, both have come against Mexico.

A Tournament of Firsts

Beyond the historical coincidence, World Cup 2026 will itself be unprecedented.

The tournament expands from 32 to 48 teams, making it the largest World Cup ever staged. A record 104 matches will be played across three host countries—the United States, Mexico and Canada—the first time the competition has been jointly hosted by three nations.

For Africa, the expanded format presents an opportunity. Never before have so many African teams qualified for the finals, increasing hopes that the continent can improve on Morocco’s historic semi-final appearance in Qatar four years ago.

The Ghosts of 2010

For older football followers, Thursday’s opener will inevitably evoke memories of Johannesburg in 2010.

The deafening sound of vuvuzelas, Tshabalala’s iconic goal, Nelson Mandela’s emotional presence at the tournament, and Africa’s moment on football’s grandest stage remain among the defining images of World Cup history.

That opening match ended in a draw. Neither side could have imagined then that they would meet again 16 years later to launch another World Cup.

Yet football has a habit of producing such coincidences.

As the countdown reaches its final hours, the world’s attention turns once again to Mexico and South Africa. The venue may have changed from Soccer City to the Azteca. The host may have switched from South Africa to Mexico. But the sense of anticipation remains the same.

History rarely offers a second opening act. On Thursday, the FIFA World Cup gets one

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By Kunle Solaja, Special Correspondent, en route to Canada and The US

FIFA has announced a groundbreaking redesign of its pre-match ceremonies for the FIFA World Cup 2026, introducing an immersive 360-degree experience aimed at bringing fans closer to the action while creating unforgettable moments for players on football’s grandest stage.

The new concept, which will debut at the expanded 48-team tournament across the United States, Canada and Mexico, seeks to transform the atmosphere inside stadiums by ensuring that supporters in every section enjoy a unique and engaging perspective of the pre-match festivities.

According to FIFA, the redesigned ceremony has been developed with both fans and teams at its core and will be accompanied by music from the Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album.

One of the most striking innovations is the positioning of all players selected in the matchday squad—not just the starting eleven—around a central banner in the centre circle during the national anthems. The move ensures that every player experiences the emotional moment of representing their country at the FIFA World Cup.

Players, accompanied by youth programme escorts, will enter the pitch through dedicated arches located nearest to their respective tunnels. The ceremony will also feature extra-large country flag banners, handheld national flags and prominent FIFA branding strategically placed around the field to create a visually captivating spectacle.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the initiative reflects the organisation’s commitment to enhancing the World Cup experience for players and supporters alike.

“As the FIFA World Cup grows, we continue to innovate the way the game is experienced,” Infantino said.

“Having all players and referees face each other in the centre circle during the national anthems will create a moment of unity, pride and emotion that truly belongs to the teams and to everyone in the stadium. The FIFA World Cup is about every player and every fan, and this new pre-match ceremony reflects that.”

Following the anthems, teams will proceed with traditional matchday rituals, including handshakes, official team photographs and the captains’ coin toss before kick-off.

FIFA also revealed that selected matches later in the tournament will feature enhanced visual effects, including coloured smoke and pyrotechnics, adding another layer of excitement to the occasion.

Commercial partners such as adidas, Coca-Cola, Kia, Mengniu, Qatar Airways and Quaker will also be integrated into various aspects of the pre-match presentation, including the youth programme and players’ tunnel areas.

The FIFA World Cup 2026, set to be the largest in history, will feature 48 teams competing across 16 host cities in North America. FIFA believes the revamped pre-match ceremony will become one of the defining visual signatures of the tournament, reinforcing the emotional bond between players, supporters and the world’s most celebrated football competition.

Meanwhile, FIFA has advised fans seeking tickets for the tournament to use its official ticketing platform and resale marketplace, stressing that these remain the preferred and authorised channels for purchasing match tickets and hospitality packages.

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By Kunle Solaja, Special Correspondent, en route to Canada and the US

The long-awaited FIFA World Cup 2026 finally gets underway on Thursday with host nation Mexico taking on South Africa in the opening match of football’s biggest tournament at the Mexico City Stadium.

The curtain-raiser, scheduled for 3:00 p.m. local time, rekindles memories of the opening game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa when the two nations played out a 1-1 draw in Johannesburg.

Interestingly, Mexico’s current head coach, Javier Aguirre, was also in charge of El Tri during that encounter 16 years ago and will be hoping to guide the hosts to a winning start before their home supporters.

The second match of the opening day will see the Republic face Czechia at the Guadalajara Stadium at 10:00 p.m. local time.

The encounter marks the first-ever competitive meeting between the two countries. While the Republic are making their 12th appearance at the FIFA World Cup, Czechia return to the global stage for the first time in two decades.

Beyond the action on the pitch, the opening day will also witness history on the touchline.

South Africa’s Belgian coach Hugo Broos, aged 74 years and 62 days, is set to become the oldest head coach ever to manage a team at a FIFA World Cup. However, the record will stand for only a few hours before Czechia’s Miroslav Koubek, aged 74 years and 283 days, takes charge of his side later in the evening.

Even that milestone is expected to be short-lived. Curacao coach Dick Advocaat, who is 78 years and 260 days old, is poised to become the oldest coach in World Cup history when his team faces Germany later in the competition.

Meanwhile, preparations continue for the next round of fixtures, with official pre-match press conferences scheduled for Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto, while the United States and Paraguay will address the media in Los Angeles ahead of their opening matches.

As part of the tournament’s innovations, FIFA is also introducing a new fan-focused pre-match ceremony designed to enhance the stadium experience. The 360-degree presentation will feature giant national flags, centre-circle displays and interactive visual elements aimed at engaging supporters from every corner of the stadium.

The FIFA World Cup 2026, the first edition to feature 48 teams and be hosted by three countries, promises a month-long celebration of football across North America, with millions of fans around the world turning their attention to Mexico, Canada and the United States as the race for global glory begins.

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