With Eyes Of World On Mexico City, El Tri Kicks Off 2026 World Cup Against South Africa

MEXICO CITY — The Mexican nationalist squad will footwear disconnected nan 2026 World Cup against South Africa connected Thursday pinch nan weight of entertaining 83,000 astatine iconic Azteca Stadium and shot fans astir nan globe.

The lucifer astatine nan venue known arsenic Mexico City Stadium during nan World Cup will footwear disconnected astatine noon PDT and aerial connected Fox and Telemundo.

Once nan shot starts rolling, nan stadium’s altitude — 7,216 feet supra oversea level — will beryllium 1 of nan biggest assets for nan Mexican lineup led by coach Javier Aguirre.

It will beryllium Mexico’s eighth opening lucifer successful a World Cup, and El Tri carries a humanities burden. It has ne'er won a tourney opener, pinch a grounds of 0-5-2, including a 1-1 tie against South Africa successful nan opening lucifer of nan 2010 World Cup successful Johannesburg.

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre directs his players during a friends against Australia connected May 30 astatine nan Rose Bowl.

(Kyusung Gong / Ap Photo/kyusung Gong)

Aguirre will apt deploy nan 4-3-3 statement he utilized during Mexico’s last warm-up lucifer against Serbia.

“We’re ready; we’ve been moving for 22 months,” said Aguirre, 67, who took nan reins of nan nationalist squad connected Aug. 1, 2024, pursuing Jaime Lozano’s nonaccomplishment astatine that year’s Copa América, erstwhile Mexico was knocked retired successful nan group stage.

Since his arrival, Aguirre has led nan squad to its first Concacaf Nations League title and nan Gold Cup. Mexico enters nan tourney connected an eight-game unbeaten streak, though respective of those results came against little tier opponents and astatine home. The 2 astir encouraging highlights of that streak were nan draws against Belgium and Portugal.

“If my teams are known for anything, it’s for their character,” Aguirre said. “My squad is conscionable for illustration me.”

The starting goalkeeper position remains a taxable of debate, but it appears Aguirre has already made his decision. Guillermo Ochoa, who will beryllium playing successful his sixth World Cup pinch Mexico, is considered by galore to beryllium nan perfect knowledgeable goalkeeper to usage during nan opener, erstwhile nerves are judge to beryllium high. However, Raúl Rangel has been nan starting goalkeeper during Mexico’s past 3 warm-up matches, playing nan afloat 90 minutes each time.

Rangel, who was 10 years aged erstwhile Mexico tied South Africa successful nan opening lucifer of nan 2010 World Cup and who fondly remembers El Tri’s triumph complete France that tournament, is assured betwixt nan posts.

Mexico could move to seasoned goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa to calm nerves during nan World Cup opener connected Thursday.

(Ronaldo Bolanos/Los Angeles Times)

“We’re successful awesome shape; we proved it against Portugal and Belgium, 2 teams that are among nan world’s elite,” said Rangel, who noted that Ochoa has instilled a consciousness of calm successful nan team.

“I do judge we tin beryllium champions. We person to commencement keeping that successful mind and judge that it’s possible. Not everyone tin boast that they played successful a World Cup connected location soil.”

The Mexican team’s deficiency of elite nine experience, however, is evident and could beryllium a problem. El Tri has fewer players successful top-tier leagues and lacks game-changers connected nan wings, arsenic Diego Lainez, Uriel Antuna and Hirving Lozano were near disconnected nan last roster. Offensive output is simply a origin for concern. In tight matches, goals person travel chiefly from defenders, pinch César Montes and Johan Vásquez being nan superior threats connected group pieces.

The committedness to younker appears to beryllium a cardinal facet successful Aguirre’s attack to building nan roster. Mexican American Brian Gutiérrez brings freshness and dynamism to nan midfield, alongside Erik Lira’s energy. As an action disconnected nan bench, Aguirre could move to 17-year-old Gilberto Mora, nan youngest subordinate successful nan tournament, who is judge to tie cheers from nan crowd.

For his part, South Africa’s 74-year-old caput coach, Hugo Broos, knows nan Azteca Stadium well, having marked Maradona during nan 1986 World Cup semifinals. To acclimate his players to nan altitude, he held training campy successful Pachuca, astatine an elevation of 7,979 feet.

“This crippled is special. I’ve played successful European championships, but there’s thing for illustration a World Cup. And we’re going to play astatine nan Azteca Stadium — it’s unthinkable that this is going to happen,” Broos said.

South Africa coach Hugo Broo talks pinch Nigeria’s players during a World Cup qualifying lucifer against Nigeria successful Bloemfontein, South Africa, connected Sept. 9.

(Themba Hadebe / Associated Press)

He expects to beryllium challenged by Mexico.

“They’re a very well-rounded team, pinch awesome mobility and teamwork,” Broos said of El Tri. “You tin show they want to beryllium world champions.”

South Africa will airs a existent threat pinch Mbekezeli Mokoena driving nan midfield and nan velocity of Oswin Appollis and Relebohile Mofokeng connected nan wings. The team’s main weakness lies successful finishing, arsenic Lyle Foster is their only striker, and if he doesn’t execute well, nan South African broadside will suffer.

“We can’t opportunity we don’t person a chance against Mexico, because that’s not true,” said Broos astir his team, which is classed 60th successful FIFA rankings and will tangle pinch a Mexican squad classed No. 14.

Pregame intermezo will footwear disconnected astatine 10:30 a.m. PDT pinch performances by Shakira, Burna Boy, Maná, J Balvin, and Alejandro Fernández. As a caller ceremonial feature, each 26 players from each squad — starters and substitutes — will participate successful nan ceremonial by lining up astir nan tournament’s cardinal emblem connected nan field, alternatively than successful nan accepted pregame formation.

The lucifer is expected to beryllium played successful nan rain. Protests are expected astir nan stadium passim nan day, including demonstrations by nan teachers’ national and groups representing nan families of missing persons.