The home team got off to a perfect start.
The Estadio Azteca, where the World Cup ball will roll early tomorrow morning in the opening match between host nation Mexico and South Africa, promises to be packed with around 83,000 spectators. It's easy to imagine the fiery atmosphere from the roads leading to the stadium to the stands, signaling a highly anticipated tournament.
Mexicans are passionate about football, and watching the World Cup in their own country is no stranger to it. Mexico made history before their first match against South Africa, becoming the first nation to host the men's World Cup three times. Prior to that, the country had hosted the World Cup in 1970 and 1986.
Coincidentally, Mexico's national team coach, Javier Aguirre, is also making his third World Cup appearance with three different national teams. "It will be a sweet and memorable summer," the 67-year-old coach's message to the media is reinforcing belief and hope among Mexicans.
Appointed in 2024, Javier Aguirre inherited a team desperate to rectify the mistakes of their disappointing 2022 World Cup campaign, where they failed to qualify for the knockout stage for the first time since 1978.
Will Mexico be a very different team at the World Cup on home soil? There is reason to believe so, given their consistent performance, with a recent eight-match unbeaten streak, including six wins.
Before concluding their pre-World Cup friendly matches, Mexico demonstrated their strength by thrashing Serbia 5-1. This perfect warm-up gave Mexico a huge boost in morale.
The match at Estadio Azteca brought back memories of the clash 16 years ago. At the 2010 World Cup, hosted by South Africa, the two teams also met in the opening match. In that game, Rafael Marquez equalized for Mexico after Siphiwe Tshabalala's classic opening goal.
Compared to Mexico, South Africa's preparations were somewhat rushed, having only managed to play one recent friendly match (a 1-0 win against Jamaica). However, South Africa's belief and desire to win are no less than their opponents'.
This fourth trip to North America for the World Cup also marks a return to the most prestigious tournament on the planet since South Africa hosted the event 16 years ago.
The challenge for South Korea
In Group A, South Korea is considered a strong contender but faces a significant challenge in their first match against the Czech Republic. Unlike South Korea, who had a smooth qualifying campaign, the Czech Republic endured difficult matches in the play-offs, successively overcoming Ireland (semi-final) and Denmark (final) on penalties to secure their ticket to North America and their first appearance at the biggest football event on the planet since being eliminated in the group stage of the 2006 World Cup.
The Czech Republic possesses a physically demanding style of play, strong in aerial duels and set pieces. They also maintain a very good scoring record, with 13 goals in their last four matches.
For South Korea, this year's World Cup marks their 12th appearance, the most among Asian representatives. Notably, this is also the 11th consecutive time that the "Taegeuk Warriors" have participated in the biggest football event on the planet.
South Korea's strengths lie in their speed, quick transitions, and strong technical skills. The Asian representatives often play very defensively against European teams, thanks to the mobility of their midfield and their ability to exploit the spaces behind the opponent's defense.
This is also what fans are hoping Son Heung-min and his team will show in the opening match. A strong start is crucial in the race to qualify for the knockout round.
According to an announcement from the International Football Federation (FIFA), the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Cup will take place at 11:30 AM local time on June 11th (0:30 AM on June 12th in Vietnam) at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
More than just a simple opening ceremony, FIFA aims to transform the opening ceremony into a global entertainment event. The event will include artistic performances, official ceremonies, and a presentation of Mexican culture to billions of viewers worldwide, lasting approximately 60 minutes. A notable highlight will be the appearance of numerous famous music stars. FIFA has confirmed that singer Shakira will perform at the opening ceremony alongside Burna Boy, to perform the official song of the 2026 World Cup.
Following the opening ceremony, the match between Mexico and South Africa will take place at 2:00 AM on June 12th. At 9:00 AM on the same day, South Korea will face off against the Czech Republic.
Source: https://baodanang.vn/bang-a-world-cup-2026-cho-khai-man-ruc-lua-3340052.html
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