Mexico dominates South Africa 4-0, signals title contention in World Cup 2026

Mexico didn’t just win the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They made a statement that echoed across every group stage bracket in the tournament.

The co-hosts dismantled South Africa 4-0 at the Mexico City Stadium, the legendary venue also known as Estadio Azteca, in front of a home crowd that had waited years for this moment. The result kicked off what will be the largest World Cup ever staged, with 104 total matches spread across the expanded format.

A 2010 rematch with a very different ending

History buffs will remember that Mexico and South Africa opened the 2010 World Cup in Johannesburg with a 1-1 draw. That match set the tone for a tournament where the host nation ultimately failed to advance past the group stage. Sixteen years later, Mexico made sure this particular sequel had a different ending.

The 4-0 scoreline wasn’t exactly a surprise if you’d been paying attention. Multiple outlets had forecast precisely this result heading into the June 11 kickoff, citing Mexico’s dominant recent form and South Africa’s inconsistent qualifying campaign.

Under returning coach Javier Aguirre, Mexico entered the tournament undefeated in their last eight matches. That run included a 4-0 demolition of Iceland earlier this year, a result that now looks like a dress rehearsal for the opener.

South Africa, managed by Hugo Broos, qualified through the CAF pathway but arrived in Mexico City carrying the weight of mixed recent results. Draws and a loss in their buildup matches hinted at vulnerabilities that Mexico exploited ruthlessly from the 12:00 p.m. ET kickoff onward.

The players who made it happen

Edson Alvarez, the midfield engine who has become indispensable to the national team setup, controlled the tempo in ways that left South Africa chasing shadows for most of the match.

Raul Jimenez, the veteran striker who has experienced the full emotional spectrum of international football, provided the cutting edge up front.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.