Welcome to The Athletic’s daily World Cup guide. Each day, we analyze key matchday highlights and provide essential statistics. For those interested in more detailed coverage, directions to some of The Athletic’s best World Cup content are included.
What Happened on Day One?
The World Cup began with Mexico playing against South Africa in front of enthusiastic home supporters. Mexico, serving as co-hosts, secured a significant win against South Africa with a 2-0 score at the historic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
This opening match will be remembered for other reasons. It broke records with three red cards, making it the most aggressive opening game in World Cup history. For context, the previous two World Cups saw only four red cards throughout the entire tournaments. For South Africa, receiving red cards seemed preferable to missing out entirely on the action.
Tournament Implications
The question now is: Are Mexico serious contenders, or merely a strong team? Time will tell. The Estadio Azteca is set to play a crucial role in the initial tournament stages. Beyond the electrifying atmosphere, the stadium’s altitude presents another factor. At 7,365 feet above sea level, it is the highest venue compared to others like Guadalajara and Monterrey, also in Mexico. This might offer an edge to Mexico in upcoming matches.
Mexico’s final group game is against the Czech Republic at the Azteca. If they lead their group, subsequent matches in the round of 32 and round of 16 could also be held there. Their familiarity with high-altitude conditions might give them a competitive advantage.
When previously hosting the tournament, Mexico reached the quarterfinals twice in 1970 and 1986. However, recent performances have been less promising. Mexico hasn’t advanced past the round of 16 in the past eight World Cups, except in 2022, where they didn’t progress from the group stage.
Projections suggest that, this time, Mexico might face England in the round of 16. With Thomas Tuchel’s team rich in Premier League talent, they are ranked fourth in the world and are strong contenders. Yet, the altitude might benefit Mexico significantly.
Highlight of the Day
Raul Jimenez scored his 46th goal for Mexico; importantly, it was his first in a World Cup. At 35, his absence in scoring during the previous tournaments makes this achievement particularly emotional. Public sentiment was also fueled by the personal journey behind his protective headgear, which stems from a life-threatening skull fracture six years ago. Scoring a header in his home country’s World Cup underscores his resilience.
Stat of the Day
Gilberto Mora entered the field in the second half of Mexico’s game. Notably, he is the youngest player at the 2026 World Cup, and his age places him as the sixth youngest in World Cup history, being slightly older than Bitcoin.
Stylistic Contrast of the Day
The day’s second match presented diverse strategies. South Korea and Czech Republic showcased different approaches. The Czechs capitalized on long throws reminiscent of the Premier League, while South Korea’s equalizer came from a 25-pass sequence. This marked the fifth-longest build-up to a goal in any World Cup since 1966.
Match to Watch
Friday marks the debut of other host nations. Canada faces Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto at 3pm ET. Simultaneously, the USMNT meets Paraguay in Los Angeles at 9pm ET. The expanded 48-team structure means a victory in these matches almost assures advancement to the knockout rounds, motivating teams to begin strong.
World Cup Favorites
The Athletic’s projections favor the U.S. and Canada to move past the group stages. Mauricio Pochettino’s team holds an 85 percent chance to advance from Group D, outperforming Turkey slightly. Winning against Paraguay would increase their likelihood further. Canada, under Jesse Marsch, is also expected to advance, yet the Bosnia match could define their trajectory.
Contrasting to Qatar’s previous performance, where they lost all three games and ranked last, Canada’s positioning in Group B indicates a different outcome.