MEXICO CITY - Co-hosts Mexico comfortably saw off South Africa 2-0 as the 2026 World Cup kicked off Thursday.
The match in front of a packed Mexico City Stadium followed an opening ceremony featuring choreographed dancing and a performance by Colombian pop star Shakira.
Mexico, hosts of the 1970 and 1986 tournaments, are sharing the role this time with Canada and the United States, whose teams will host their own opening ceremonies on Friday.
Forward Julian Quinones scored the first goal of the tournament in the ninth minute of the Group A clash at the iconic 82,000-seat venue better known as the Azteca stadium.
South Africa were reduced to 10 men with Sphephelo Sithole's 49th-minute red card and Mexico doubled their lead 18 minutes later through Raul Jimenez.
This year's World Cup is the first to feature 48 teams, up from 32 at the previous edition.
The buildup to the tournament has been overshadowed by controversy over exorbitant ticket prices and immigration problems involving travel to the United States by teams, fans and officials, including a Somali referee being denied entry to the country.
Iran's participation has been complicated by the country being at war with the United States. The Iranians relocated their training base from Arizona to Mexico and will only be allowed to enter the United States on match days, with many of their team officials denied visas.
Japan, aiming for their first trip to the quarterfinals and beyond, will begin their campaign in Group F against the Netherlands at Dallas Stadium on Sunday.
