The wait is over! Mexico City takes center stage for FIFA World Cup kickoff

The countdown is over. The anticipation that has built across continents for four years reaches its climax today as the FIFA World Cup bursts into life in Mexico City, where co-hosts Mexico will launch their campaign against South Africa before a packed and passionate crowd at the legendary Estadio Azteca.

For South Africa, the opening match presents both an opportunity and a daunting challenge. Standing between them and a dream start is not only one of the tournament's most accomplished teams but also tens of thousands of fervent Mexican supporters expected to transform the iconic stadium into a sea of noise and emotion.

At the center of it all will be veteran South African head coach Hugo Broos, whose return to the Azteca carries a deeply personal significance.

A return four decades in the making

For Broos, this is more than another World Cup match.

The 74-year-old Belgian tactician will walk onto familiar ground, returning to the same stadium where he competed as a player during the 1986 World Cup. Then representing Belgium, Broos experienced firsthand the atmosphere generated when Mexico played before its home supporters.

Forty years later, he expects an even more intimidating environment.

“There will be a big crowd and there will not be so much South African support,” Broos said. “So that is a big help for them.

“They will have 85,000 Mexicans shouting and singing. But we have to focus on our game. And if we can do that, if we are not too influenced by the noise of 85,000 Mexicans, then we can have a good game.”

The match that could define Group A

South Africa enters the tournament knowing that a positive result against Mexico could dramatically alter the complexion of Group A.

Broos believes the hosts represent the strongest side in the group and the benchmark against which all others will be measured.

“I think they’ve won nearly all of their last 10 games,” Broos said of Mexico. “So they’ll be a team with confidence… they’re the best team in the group.

“So tomorrow it will be a very tough game. We need to be at our best level, but I can assure you our team is ready to fight for every meter and every ball.”

The comments reflect both respect for the opposition and confidence in a South African squad determined to prove it belongs on football's biggest stage.

Azteca ready for another historic chapter

Few venues in world football carry the mystique of the Estadio Azteca.

Its history is intertwined with some of the sport's most memorable moments, and tonight it becomes the launching pad for another World Cup journey. The opening match will not only set the tone for Mexico's campaign but also provide an early glimpse into how teams adapt to the unique challenges of a tournament spread across multiple nations and cities.

The atmosphere promises to be electric, with Mexican supporters eager to propel their team toward a winning start in front of a global audience.

Expanded tournament brings new challenges

While excitement surrounding the expanded tournament is undeniable, Broos remains unconvinced by the new 48-team format.

The South African coach believes the enlarged competition introduces additional physical and logistical demands that were absent in previous editions.

His concerns center particularly on the extensive travel schedule facing participating teams.

“It’s a bit too big when you play with 48 countries,” he said.

“Forty years ago it was a World Cup in Mexico, but now it is modern times, and we have to adapt.

“It’s more exhausting than the previous World Cup, when you are with less countries, but we have to accept it.”

South Africa's itinerary alone includes journeys between Mexico City, Atlanta, and Monterrey, illustrating the scale of the challenge confronting teams in the expanded event.

A global spectacle begins

As the first whistle approaches, the focus shifts from predictions and preparations to performances on the field.

For Mexico, the objective is clear: capitalize on home support and establish early control of Group A. For South Africa, the mission is to silence a packed stadium and secure a result that could become the foundation of a successful tournament run.

One team will leave the Azteca with momentum. The other will be left searching for answers.

What is certain is that the FIFA World Cup has arrived once again, and the eyes of the football world are fixed firmly on Mexico City as the greatest show in sport begins its latest chapter.