The world's biggest and most sprawling World Cup kicked off at the Estadio Azteca on Thursday with co-host Mexico scoring a fiery 2-0 victory over South Africa in a match that lived up to pre-tournament billing, if not quite to tactical discipline.
Julian Quinones broke the deadlock after just nine minutes to spark jubilant celebrations across Mexico City and a capacity crowd of 80,000 spectators. The points were safely wrapped up later in the evening when 35-year-old veteran forward Raul Jimenez rolled back the years to guide a flawless header into the back of the net. The iconic Azteca has gone down further in football’s history books by becoming the first venue in the world to host matches in three separate World Cup cycles.
But a fractious affair often eclipsed the match, with the referee brandishing three red cards. South Africa found itself heavily depleted after Sphephelo Sithole was dismissed for a professional foul that denied a clear goalscoring opportunity, which was soon followed by a straight red for Themba Zwane following a physical altercation. Late on, Mexico partially surrendered their numerical advantage when Cesar Montes received a red card for a reckless challenge.
The psychological toll of the occasion was laid bare after the final whistle by Mexico manager Javier Aguirre, who revealed his squad had suffered an unprecedented bout of opening-day anxiety. Aguirre remarked that despite his quarter-century of managerial experience, he had never before witnessed three of his players suffer debilitating muscle cramps simultaneously—an ailment he attributed entirely to the sheer magnitude and pressure of the occasion.
The fixture marks the beginning of a marathon 48-team tournament distributed across Mexico, Canada, and the United States, culminating in the final in New Jersey on 19 July. A glittering opening ceremony featured a collaborative performance of the official tournament anthem “Dai Dai” by Colombian icon Shakira and Nigerian star Burna Boy before the legendary Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli closed the artistic proceedings.
However, the carnival atmosphere within the stadium walls was in stark contrast to events on the streets of the capital. Severe civil unrest materialised outside the perimeter, where student activists, teaching unions, and relatives of missing Mexican citizens clashed directly with riot police. Demonstrators breached security barriers moments after Mexico’s opening goal, prompting a robust response from authorities guarding the complex.
The operational success of the tournament remains a key concern for world governing body FIFA, which is facing intense scrutiny over rampant commercialisation. Fans have expressed outrage over skyrocketing ticket costs, which have reached an astonishing $30,000 (£23,500) for premium seats. Speaking on the eve of the tournament, FIFA President Gianni Infantino mounted a robust defence of the pricing structure, pointing to a limited allocation of $60 tickets and arguing that the average price—hovering just under $500—was more affordable than typical elite North American sporting events.
Further complications have arisen due to the stringent immigration policies the United States administration enacted. The geopolitical climate has disrupted tournament logistics, with several fans, Iranian team delegates, and high-profile officials denied entry to the US. Among those affected was Somali referee Omar Artan, who the authorities barred from entering via Miami due to alleged associations with flagged organisations. Infantino dismissed the burgeoning controversy, publicly urging the media to “chill and relax". In a striking twist, European governing body UEFA responded by appointing Artan to oversee the prestigious European Super Cup clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa this August.
Despite these diplomatic hurdles, FIFA officials highlighted the arrival of the Iranian squad—who held a media-monitored training session at their Mexican base on Thursday—as a triumph of sporting diplomacy over international conflict. Similarly, the Democratic Republic of Congo squad successfully navigated strict US health controls following an Ebola outbreak in their home nation. West Ham United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka confirmed the squad experienced no delays upon arriving in Houston, despite initial demands from US health authorities for a strict 21-day quarantine period.
With the tournament schedule shifting immediately toward Guadalajara for South Korea’s encounter with the Czech Republic, the footballing elite are beginning to lay down their markers. While traditional heavyweights Spain, France, and England carry the tag of pre-tournament favourites, the romantic narrative remains firmly tethered to reigning champions Argentina, where a 38-year-old Lionel Messi aims to orchestrate one final, historic charge toward global glory.
