MEXICO CITY — Mexico usually hits a wall when it plays on the opening day of the World Cup . Of the seven previous occurrences, El Tri’s record is five losses and two draws. Mexico gets another shot Thursday when it hosts South Africa to kick off the 48-team tournament .

The 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway with hosts Mexico taking on South Africa in the opening match at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Mexico are favourites and will be buoyed by home support and a strong World Cup record on home soil.

At long last, the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway. All eyes will be on Thursday's opening slate as tournament co-host Mexico faces a lot of pressure after an unsuccessful 2022 c

Re-live all of Wednesday's pre-tournament action as the world prepares to tune in to Mexico vs. South Africa in the World Cup opener.

Mexico and South Africa open the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico City on Thursday. Check out the latest betting odds and predictions.

The first day of the 2026 World Cup isn't only about the opening game in Mexico City. The other teams in Group A with El Tri and South Africa meet in the state of Jalisco hours after the opener with a match that will go a long way in shaping the picture of the group.

All the prop bet recommendations, betting projections and trends are generated by THE BAT X, a system that I've created using advanced methods like those used in MLB front offices, accounting for a variety of factors including player talent,

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