World Cup Daily: Co-host Mexico kicks off with a bang |
We’re off and running at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and if the opening day was any indication, we're in for one helluva tournament.
Five goals and two wins — one from co-hosts Mexico, the other a fantastic comeback effort by South Korea — set heartbeats racing on Thursday, with the fans in attendance in both Mexico City and Guadalajara enthusiastically showing their appreciation for the entertaining football produced on Matchday 1.
Mexico’s best showings at the World Cup came in the ones it hosted, reaching the quarterfinals in 1970 and 1986. It’s far too early to suggest El Tri can make a run to the final eight for the third time. But Thursday’s win over South Africa should give Mexican supporters every right to believe.
South Korea, meanwhile, will feel pretty good about itself after getting the better of Czechia, hoping it’s the first step towards equalling its best-ever showing – a semifinal showing on home soil in 2002.
Group A: Mexico 2, South Africa 0 || Match report || Match stats
Group A: Korea Republic 2, Czechia 1 || Match report || Match stats
Mexico wins, but coach Javier Aguirre unimpressed
It took 16 years but Mexico finally exacted revenge on South Africa with a rampant win in Thursday’s opening match of the 2026 World Cup. This was a rematch of the curtain raiser at the........