Mexico Opens the World Cup, Debuts with a Victory, and the Streets Are Filled with Celebrations and Protests.
Raúl Jiménez scored the decisive header and 80,000 fans sang and danced through the night after Mexico’s opening World Cup win.
- Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0 in the FIFA World Cup opener, thrilling 80,000 fans at the stadium who sang along to opening ceremony performers including Shakira. The tournament launched across Mexico, Canada, and the USA.
- Following the victory, fans flooded Paseo de la Reforma in Mexico City, transforming the famous boulevard into a pedestrian-only celebration zone. Crowds gathered near Independencia, cheering and honking car horns into the early morning hours.
- Coach Javier Aguirre attributed the players' performance to emotion, reporting "Never, never in 25 matches we had one case of cramps, today we had three players with cramps." The crowd also chanted for 17-year-old Gilberto Mora when he entered as a substitute.
- FIFA president Gianni Infantino expressed relief as the tournament finally began, having previously asked critics to "chillax" regarding preparations. The successful kickoff allowed him to move past weeks of scrutiny.
- Questions remain about whether high ticket prices will deter fans from future matches across North America. Observers also ask if Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, will increase their presence at upcoming games.
24 Articles
24 Articles
What We’re Watching: Mexico protests cast shadow on World Cup opener, & More
Protests overshadow Mexico’s victory in World Cup openerOn the field, “El Tri” cruised past South Africa 2-0 on Thursday at the majestic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Off the field, it wasn’t as smooth. Hundreds of protesters clashed with police outside the stadium, with some throwing rocks and petrol bombs at law enforcement officials (it’s unclear what drove those clashes). Meanwhile, a larger, peaceful protest in a plaza set to host the capi…
Mexico has successfully entered the 2026 World Cup with a 2-0 victory. The euphoria in the country is huge – and does not stop in front of the animal kingdom.
Mexico opens the 2026 World Championship, surpassing 2-0 South Africa in the stadium that hosted the iconic match of the century and the magic of Maradona. From the ceremony with Shakira and Bocelli to the protests for the desaparecidos, until the first Var announcement of the history of the tournament and the three expulsions. In the night South Korea reassembles and beats 2-1 the Czech Republic. Tonight Canada-Bosnia and Usa-Paraguay. Continue…
Mexico began its World Cup with a clear victory over South Africa (2-0), and the Mexican people took the opportunity to celebrate in the streets of Mexico City and in every city in the country.
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