Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 as 2026 World Cup opened in Mexico City

The 2026 World Cup opened in Mexico City on Thursday with Mexico beating South Africa 2-0 at Azteca Stadium after a ceremony featuring Shakira and other international performers. Thousands of fans packed the 82,000-seat venue for the first World Cup match on Mexican soil in 40 years. Outside the stadium, sporadic clashes broke out when nearly 200 hooded people split from two protest groups of about 800 and confronted police, Mexican officials said. Authorities said officers brought the situation under control, but nearby metro stations were temporarily shut. Other marches by teachers and families of people missing in Mexico's drug war also took place as the tournament began. Mexico is co-hosting the 2026 World Cup with the United States and Canada.