Mexico faces South Africa looking to end a 96-year World Cup curse

For the eighth time in World Cup history, Mexico will play in the opening game of the tournament, taking on South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on Thursday, June 11 (kickoff at 9 p.m. ET).

You may not be surprised to learn that, heading into the 23rd World Cup, El Tri holds the record for appearances in opening games. However, they have only taken sole possession of the mark this year, as Brazil had previously been tied with them on seven curtain-raisers.

It should be pointed out that several tournaments (1930, 1934, 1954, and 1962) featured more than one opening game taking place at the same time.

A record Mexico would rather not have

But while the Mexicans have kicked things off more often than anyone else, they have never ended things the way they wanted. Look away now if you’re a fan of El Tri.

Ninety-six years after Mexico’s first appearance in an opening game at the inaugural World Cup in 1930, Javier Aguirre is hoping to become the first manager to lead them to victory in one.

Of Mexico’s seven previous opening games, they have lost five and drawn two.

Things have, at least, improved somewhat. The North American nation lost each of its first five World Cup openers by an aggregate score of 18-1. The lowlights included a 4-0 defeat to Brazil in 1950, followed by a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of the same opponent four years later.

As hosts in 1970, Mexico played out a 0-0 draw against the Soviet Union, then tied 1-1 with 2010 hosts South Africa in their most recent opening-game appearance.

Mexico’s overall opening-game record therefore reads: won none, drawn two, lost five, two goals scored, 19 conceded. Ouch.

History repeats itself against South Africa

Curiously, the 2026 opening game is a repeat of the 2010 opener, albeit with a different host nation. That is the first time the same matchup has been used as a standalone World Cup opening game.

Brazil vs. Mexico technically opened consecutive tournaments in 1950 and 1954, but the latter was one of four matches that kicked off simultaneously rather than the tournament’s sole curtain-raiser.

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