The FIFA World Cup 2026 kicked off in Mexico City after a grand opening ceremony last night. Co-host Mexico defeated South Africa by 2-0 in the inaugural match at the Azteca stadium. Julian Quinones scored Mexico’s opening goal on the ninth minute to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. Later, Raul Jimenez scored in the 67th minute, making it 2-0 for Mexico. Three players were shown red cards, bringing Mexico down to 10 players and South Africa to 9 on the pitch. Sithole and Zwane given straight red cards for South Africa before Mexico’s Montes dismissed. Group A Clash marks beginning of the biggest world cup of the history, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches across Canada, Mexico and United States.
Earlier, the grand opening ceremony was a celebration of global music and culture, headlined by Shakira and Burna Boy, who performed Dai-Dai, the official song of the tournament. The festivities also showcased Mexican music royalty, with performances by Alejandro Fernández, Lila Downs, Belinda and others, setting the tone for a month-long football carnival.
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