Mexico opens 2026 World Cup with win over South Africa
Mexico began the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 2-0 victory over South Africa in Mexico City, turning the tournament’s first night into a host-nation statement as much as a global fan spectacle. Match reports said Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez scored for Mexico, while the game also drew attention for three red cards. FIFA’s tournament material lists this edition as the first World Cup staged across three countries and the first with 48 teams, 12 groups and a new round of 32. For Belgium, the opening night is the start of a longer, more crowded tournament calendar rather than the main event: the Red Devils enter Group G against Egypt, Iran and New Zealand, with FIFA’s schedule placing their opener against Egypt in Seattle on 15 June.
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About this story
The 2026 FIFA World Cup (men’s football tournament organised by FIFA from 11 June to 19 July 2026) is being co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States. FIFA (global football governing body founded in 1904) sets the tournament format, match calendar and eligibility rules. Mexico (co-host and opening-match team) played South Africa (African national side returning to the finals) at Estadio Ciudad de México, the renovated Mexico City stadium widely known as the Azteca. Javier Aguirre (Mexico coach and former national-team player) leads the hosts. Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez (Mexico forwards) were reported as the opening-match scorers. Belgium’s Red Devils (Belgian men’s national team) are in Group G with Egypt, Iran and New Zealand, with matches scheduled at Lumen Field in Seattle, SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles and BC Place in Vancouver.
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The history
FIFA’s official expansion decision in January 2017 approved a 48-team World Cup from 2026, replacing the 32-team format used since France 1998. FIFA’s March 2023 calendar decision then settled on 12 groups of four and 104 matches, abandoning an earlier three-team-group plan. Mexico and South Africa also carry opening-match history: they drew the first match of the 2010 World Cup in Johannesburg on 11 June 2010. Belgium’s modern benchmark remains the 2018 tournament, where the Red Devils finished third before exiting the 2022 World Cup at the group stage.
Why now
The story is timely because the tournament opened on 11 June in Mexico City, turning months of schedule and squad preparation into live competition. Belgium’s first match follows on 15 June, so the opening weekend sets the rhythm for Belgian fans.
What to watch
Watch Belgium’s 15 June opener against Egypt, the disciplinary fallout from the opening match if FIFA confirms suspensions, and early results in Groups A and G. The third-place table will become important once all groups have played at least two matches.
Local impact
The most local Belgian effect is in the hospitality and fan-viewing sector: sports bars in Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Liège and student cities can now plan around Belgium’s Group G fixtures. Because the matches are in North America, Belgian viewing times may shape staffing, public-transport choices and late-evening crowd patterns more than a Europe-hosted tournament would.
International angle
The 2026 World Cup is a cross-border North American event staged by Mexico, Canada and the United States, with FIFA’s schedule spreading matches across 16 host cities. Belgium enters as one European participant in a tournament designed to widen global representation, bringing more African, Asian and smaller football nations into the final phase.
What this means for you
Belgian readers following the Red Devils should check fixture times carefully because Belgium’s matches are in Seattle, Los Angeles and Vancouver. Bars, families and supporter groups may need late-evening plans, while fans travelling to North America should monitor venue-specific entry, transport and ticket guidance from FIFA and local organisers.
What happens next
The tournament continues with host-nation matches in Canada and the United States before Belgium enter on 15 June. FIFA’s schedule then gives Belgium further Group G matches against Iran and New Zealand. The main sporting question is whether Belgium can win the group, because the expanded format gives both runners-up and selected third-placed teams a route into the round of 32.
Potential consequences
Mexico’s opening win could strengthen the hosts’ route through Group A and intensify local momentum around the tournament. For Belgium, the broader consequence is strategic: in a 48-team format, goal difference, discipline and third-place rankings can become decisive. Belgian supporters should expect more scoreboard-watching across unrelated groups, while coaches may have to balance qualification security against player workload over a potentially eight-match title run.
Timeline
- 2017-01-10·FIFA approved expanding the men’s World Cup to 48 teams from 2026.
- 2023-03-14·FIFA confirmed the 12-group, 104-match format for the 2026 tournament.
- 2024-02-04·FIFA announced the main match schedule, including Mexico City as opening-match host.
- 2025-12-05·FIFA held the final draw for the 2026 World Cup groups.
- 2026-06-11·Mexico opened the tournament against South Africa in Mexico City.
- 2026-06-15·FIFA’s schedule lists Belgium’s Group G opener against Egypt in Seattle.
- 2026-06-26·FIFA’s schedule lists New Zealand v Belgium as Belgium’s final Group G match in Vancouver.
- 2026-07-19·FIFA’s schedule lists the final in New York New Jersey.
Glossary
- Round of 32
- The new first knockout round in the 48-team World Cup format, reached by the 12 group winners, 12 runners-up and eight best third-placed teams.
- Group G
- Belgium’s first-round World Cup group, listed by FIFA as Belgium, Egypt, Iran and New Zealand.
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This briefing was prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by a Belgium Impulse editor before publication. methodology.