World Cup Kicks Off Today — Africa’s 10 Teams Begin the Hunt

Today is the day. The whistle blows. The world stands still for football.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially begins this Thursday, June 11, as hosts Mexico take on South Africa at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The match kicks off at 1 pm local time — 3 pm Eastern — in front of an expected 80,000 fans packed into one of the most legendary stadiums in football history.

A Historic Opening

This fixture carries deep symbolism. In 2010, the two nations opened the World Cup in Johannesburg — a match that produced a famous 1-1 draw and gave the world Siphiwe Tshabalala’s unforgettable opener. Now, 16 years later, they meet again at football’s biggest stage. This time, Mexico have home advantage. South Africa arrive as underdogs. However, Bafana Bafana will be determined to make history a second time.

Mexico head into the match in excellent form, with eight successive unbeaten friendlies in 2026. Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, remarkably, is the only player to appear in both the 2010 and 2026 editions of the tournament — a fitting reminder of how much has changed and how much remains the same.

Africa’s Record Showing

For African football fans, this World Cup is special. Ten African nations have qualified — a record. Algeria, Cape Verde, DR Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia will all compete. Morocco, who reached the semi-finals in Qatar 2022, arrive with genuine expectations. Meanwhile, South Africa’s appearance in today’s opening match gives the continent an immediate presence on day one.

Nigeria, however, is not among them. As a result, Nigerian fans will be cheering for the continent while simultaneously reflecting on a painful missed opportunity.

The Tournament Ahead

This is the largest World Cup in history — 48 teams, 104 matches, three host nations, and a final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19. Favourites include France, Brazil, England, Argentina, and Spain. However, the expanded format makes upsets more likely than ever.

For the next 39 days, everything stops for football. Today, it begins.