Mexico
- Quiñones9'
- Jiménez67'
Full Time
South Africa
The Players to Watch
Confirmed starting elevens, bench, and substitutions for both sides. Coach and captain detail come from each team's full squad page.
Mexico
4-1-2-3 · Starting XI
Javier Aguirre
Edson Alvarez
Starting XI · 4-1-2-3
- 1José Rangel
- 15Israel Reyes
Club America
- 23Jesús Gallardo
- 3César Montes
- 5Johan Vásquez
- 26Brian Gutiérrez
- 8Álvaro Fidalgo
- 6Erik Lira
Cruz Azul
- 9Raúl Jiménez
- 16Julián Quiñones
- 25Roberto Alvarado
Substitutions
- 66'
↑Luis Chávez
↓Brian Gutiérrez
- 66'
↑Gilberto Mora
↓Álvaro Fidalgo
- 76'
↑Edson Álvarez
↓Erik Lira
- 76'
↑Armando González
↓Raúl Jiménez
- 79'
↑Alexis Vega
↓Julián Quiñones
Bench15
- 12Carlos Acevedo
- 13Guillermo Ochoa
- 20Mateo Chávez
- 2Jorge Sánchez
- 7Luis Romo
- 18Obed Vargas
- 19Gilberto Mora
- 17Orbelín Pineda
- 24Luis Chávez
- 4Edson Álvarez
- 14Armando González
- 22Guillermo Martínez
- 10Alexis Vega
- 21César Huerta
- 11Santiago Giménez
South Africa
5-3-2 · Starting XI
Hugo Broos
Ronwen Williams
Starting XI · 5-3-2
- 1Ronwen WilliamsC
Mamelodi Sundowns
- 21Ime Okon
- 14Mbekezeli Mbokazi
- 6Aubrey Modiba
Mamelodi Sundowns
- 19Nkosinathi Sibisi
Orlando Pirates
- 20Khuliso Mudau
Mamelodi Sundowns
- 23Jayden Adams
- 13Sphephelo Sithole
Belenenses
- 4Teboho Mokoena
Mamelodi Sundowns
- 15Iqraam Rayners
Mamelodi Sundowns
- 9Lyle Foster
Burnley
Substitutions
- 56'
↑Thalente Mbatha
↓Lyle Foster
- 61'
↑Themba Zwane
↓Jayden Adams
- 76'
↑Oswin Appollis
↓Aubrey Modiba
- 76'
↑Evidence Makgopa
↓Iqraam Rayners
Bench15
- 16Sipho Chaine
- 22Ricardo Goss
- 24Olwethu Makhanya
- 2Tholo Matuludi
- 18Samukelo Kabini
- 3Khulumani Ndamane
- 26Bradley Cross
- 5Thalente Mbatha
- 12Thapelo Maseko
- 25Kamogelo Sebelebele
- 11Themba Zwane
- 17Evidence Makgopa
- 8Tshepang Moremi
- 10Relebohile Mofokeng
- 7Oswin Appollis
Goal Timeline
2 goals- 9'⚽1 - 0
Julián Quiñones
Assist: Erik Lira
- 67'⚽2 - 0
Raúl Jiménez
Assist: Roberto Alvarado
Bookings
6- 17'
Teboho MokoenaSouth Africa
- 23'
Brian GutiérrezMexico
- 49'
Sphephelo SitholeSouth Africa
- 74'
Nkosinathi SibisiSouth Africa
- 84'
Themba ZwaneSouth Africa
- 90'
César MontesMexico
Match Officials
- Centre RefereeWilton SampaioBrazil
- Assistant Referee 1Bruno Raphael PiresBrazil
- Assistant Referee 2Bruno BoschiliaBrazil
Group Standings
Live points, goal difference, and the qualification cutoff line. The top 2 advance to the Round of 32; eight best third-place finishers across all 12 groups also progress.
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇲🇽MexicoIn match | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | +6 | 9 |
| 2 | 🇿🇦South AfricaIn match | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 4 |
| 3 | 🇰🇷Korea Republic | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 3 |
| 4 | 🇨🇿Czechia | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | -4 | 1 |
Where to Watch
Estadio Azteca Mexico City
(Estadio Azteca)
Match #1 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 is played at Estadio Azteca Mexico City in Mexico City, CDMX. Capacity 87,523 for the tournament.
Kick-Off in Your Time Zone
Six common time zones for international fans, plus your local time at the top.
- 🇺🇸ET (Eastern Time, USA)Your zone15:00 EDT
- 🇺🇸PT (Pacific Time, USA)12:00 PDT
- 🇬🇧UK (London)20:00 GMT+1
- 🇪🇸Spain (Madrid)21:00 GMT+2
- 🇧🇷Brazil (São Paulo)16:00 GMT-3
- 🇦🇷Argentina (Buenos Aires)16:00 GMT-3
- 🇯🇵Japan (Tokyo)04:00 GMT+9
- 🇦🇺Australia (Sydney)05:00 GMT+10
- 🇲🇦Morocco (Casablanca)20:00 GMT+1