THE WORLD CUP BEGINS: Mexico and South Africa play the first match

(Patria) - Tonight at 9 PM Central European Time, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the biggest sporting event on the planet, begins, set to gather billions of viewers worldwide in the coming weeks. 

For the first time in history, the World Cup is being organized by three countries – Mexico, Canada, and the United States of America, and the honor of opening the tournament has fallen to the national teams of Mexico and South Africa.

The first match of the championship is played tonight in Mexico City, where the host team will face off against the South African national team. The duel will be held at the legendary Mexico City Stadium, known worldwide as the former Azteca, one of the most famous football temples of all time.

This year's World Cup writes new pages of history. For the first time, as many as 48 national teams are participating in the final tournament, meaning fans will watch a record 104 matches over the coming weeks. Never before has a World Cup been bigger, longer, and richer in content than this edition in North America.

Tonight's duel between Mexico and South Africa carries special symbolism. Interestingly, the same national teams played at the opening of the 2010 World Cup when South Africa was the host, and that match ended without a winner with a score of 1:1. Sixteen years later, fate brings them together again at the start of the greatest football spectacle.

The atmosphere in Mexico is reaching its peak. Tens of thousands of fans have already flooded the streets of the capital, while more than 80,000 spectators are expected at the stadium.

Organizers are announcing a spectacular opening ceremony that will officially begin a month of football magic.

It will be a special summer for Bosnia and Herzegovina as well, because our national team is also participating in the World Cup, and we play our first match on Friday, June 12, against another host, the Canadian team.

Public viewing of World Cup matches has been organized throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, and there is particular euphoria ahead of tomorrow's match.

(sportsport.ba)