The spirit of football is a profound force that transcends commercialization. Despite the rebranding of the Azteca Stadium to the Mexico City Stadium for the Geopolitics World Cup, the essence of the venue remains unchanged. While ticket prices soar and a beer costs 280 pesos ($17), the memories of the tournaments in 1970 and 1986 linger. The ghosts of past competitions were palpably felt, alongside a star-studded opening ceremony featuring JJ Balvin, Salma Hayek, David Guetta, EJAE, and Andrea Bocelli. Although the match between Mexico and South Africa, which ended 2-0, may not be remembered as a classic, it certainly reminded everyone of the tournament’s significance.
The match saw Yaya Sithole’s infamous second-half red card, which may have spared him from further defensive blunders. The Brazilian referee, Wilton Sampaio, made history with his own record of three red cards issued. Raúl Jiménez also had a moment of glory, scoring for Mexico, although the home fans expressed their frustration at the team for not capitalizing more against a South African side that was dismal, leaving local pundits like Quinton Fortune and Benni McCarthy searching for answers. “What do we say, what went wrong in this game?” was the anchor’s perplexed question.
The contrasting emotions of the Mexican players were stark against the desolation felt by the defeated South African team. However, Hugo Broos, the coach of South Africa, maintained an optimistic outlook. “I saw a desperate Mexico,” he asserted. “They didn’t know what to do with the ball. The organisation was perfect defensively.” In the grandstands of the Azteca, Gianni Infantino sat among football legends, such as Roberto Baggio, as Mexican protests over pressing issues remained subdued during the opening match. Although there were complaints from journalists about unreliable Wi-Fi, the event proceeded without significant incident.
Guadalajara hosted the next match, which featured an exciting comeback by South Korea against Czechia. The encounter showcased attacking football overcoming a more traditional set-piece strategy reminiscent of a Dave Bassett-led Wimbledon team. Vladimir Coufal’s long throw assisted Ladislav Krejci’s opening goal, but South Korea responded effectively with goals from Hwang In-beom and Oh Hyeon-gyu to secure the win. Despite the thrilling nature of the game, the headlines were overshadowed by the official attendance figure of 44,985, hinting at 700 unoccupied seats. However, the vibrant atmosphere suggested otherwise, as the local fans seemed to have opted out. FIFA’s reaction was notably silent, much like the South African commentators’ earlier bewilderment.
LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE
John Brewin will be delivering updates on the GWC news blog until 6pm BST (1pm EDT). Following him, Taha Hashim will provide minute-by-minute coverage of the Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina match at 8pm BST (3pm EDT). The day’s final match will see the USA face Paraguay, scheduled for Saturday at 2am BST (9pm EDT).
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“At the Euros I think we got a few things wrong off the pitch, I don’t feel the group connected as well as it could have for a number of reasons. When it came to the tournament, we were seen as one of two or three teams that could win it. We weren’t playing well, which doesn’t help, so even when we were winning, we didn’t get the feeling that we were as happy as we should be,” stated Jude Bellingham, reflecting on England’s experience at the Euros and suggesting a lack of connection within the team.
Everything you need to know (and more) about every squad member at the GWC is available in our essential interactive guide, covering all 1,248 of them.
FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS
“Back in the 1994 World Cup, it was suggested the games should be split into four quarters to pander to increased advertising revenue. Needless to say, this idea was treated with the intense derision that it deserved and quickly booted into touch before it was implemented. Thirty-two years later we have ‘hydration breaks’ splitting the game into quarters and two extra advertising breaks. The more things change, the more they stay the same,” wrote Nigel Sanders.
“Re: yesterday’s Football Daily. Apologies if this sounds like a story meant for a campfire but it’s hard to convey the feelings and the emotion that this tournament brings to the surface. The first tournament I distinctly remember was the 2002 World Cup – I was in India and the time difference was perfect to catch a game or two after school. I saw it all – Ronaldinho’s smile, the Ronaldo haircut, Oliver Kahn’s intimidating presence, and the South Koreans going far (shout out to Turkey). The tournaments that followed were great but it never reached the same levels (for me). I swore as a 12-year-old (in 2002) that I’d go to one tournament in my lifetime; I came close in 2022 but it never came to be. Now we are in 2026, I am to be a citizen of a country that is co-hosting this tournament and, despite the ticket lottery and FIFA circus, I have secured tickets to two games. Twenty-four years later the promise is being kept. The little boy from 2002 will be proud,”
shared Girish Chandra.
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Listen up! It’s the first World Cup Daily podcast featuring Max Rushden, Barry Glendenning, Barney Ronay, Jeff Rueter, and Jonathan Wilson as they reflect on the significant kickoff at the GWC.
- This is an extract from our daily football email, Football Daily. To get the full version, just visit this page and follow the instructions.
This is an extract from our daily football email, Football Daily. To get the full version, just visit this page and follow the instructions.
