Di World Cup don start for real, and e don hot for Estadio Azteca. Mexico, di host nation, don defeat South Africa for di opening match, but e no come easy. Di match see plenty red cards, with South Africa lose two players and Mexico lose one.
Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez score for Mexico, while Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane see red for South Africa. César Montes also get sent off for Mexico. Di match don set tone for di tournament, wey go see 104 matches over 39 days.
South Africa return to World Cup for first time since 2010, under coach Hugo Broos. Di Belgian take charge in 2021 and don turn di team around. Dem qualify after a tough campaign wey include a three-point deduction for fielding suspended Teboho Mokoena against Lesotho. But dem hold nerve and finish one point ahead of Nigeria to secure di spot.
Di match see plenty action from start. Mexico control di centre of di pitch, while South Africa try to attack down di flanks. Gilberto Mora, di 17-year-old midfielder for Mexico, show say e get serious talent. But South Africa no back down, and di match remain tight until di end.
Di opening ceremony don also happen, with music and dance. Shakira and Burna Boy perform di official tune, but e no reach di level of 2010 classic. Fans dey enjoy di atmosphere, and di sense of wonder dey for everyone wey dey watch.
For di group, South Africa face tough task against co-hosts Mexico, South Korea, and Czechia. But Broos don restore belief for di team, wey dey built around disciplined core and dangerous counterattack through players like Relebohile Mofokeng and Oswin Appollis.
