MEXICO TO OPEN WORLD CUP AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA ON THURSDAY

The 2026 World Cup is set to begin with Mexico facing South Africa on Thursday, with South Korea also playing Czechia on the opening day of the tournament. Mexico City has seen football advertising increase ahead of the competition, with imagery featuring former Real Madrid striker Hugo Sánchez prominent across the city. Raúl Jiménez and Alexis Vega of Toluca also feature on billboards around the capital. Knock-off Mexico shirts are being sold on streets made more congested by a teachers' strike and associated protests.

The atmosphere in Mexico City has been subdued rather than celebratory, with waiters and taxi drivers expressing surprise at encountering visitors attending the World Cup, suggesting a limited influx of fans so far. Murals in the Coyoacán district have been updated with football imagery, and flags are visible in some bars and cafes. However, anecdotal reports indicate few Mexicans hold high expectations for their national team's performance. Further demonstrations are planned by teachers, retired judges, and groups highlighting the cases of Mexico's 134,000 disappeared persons.

The tournament has attracted widespread criticism ahead of kick-off, with visa issues, high ticket prices, and FIFA president Gianni Infantino's conduct drawing negative attention. Questions about FIFA's governance and calls for reform form part of the backdrop to the competition. Mexico is one of three co-hosts for the tournament alongside the United States and Canada. The opening fixture between Mexico and South Africa is scheduled for Thursday.