First Time In FIFA World Cup History! Same Two Teams Meet Again In Opening Match

Last Updated:June 12, 2026, 00:40 IST

Mexico and South Africa created FIFA World Cup history by becoming the first two teams to face each other in the tournament's opening match on two separate occasions.

In the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosts Mexico are taking on South Africa at Mexico City Stadium on Thursday (June 11). The fixture is a historic one, as it marks the first time in FIFA World Cup history that the same two teams have faced each other in the tournament’s opening match on two separate occasions.

The opening match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup was also contested between South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City in Johannesburg on June 11, 2010. That encounter ended in a 1-1 draw, with Siphiwe Tshabalala giving the hosts the lead in the 55th minute before Rafael Márquez equalised for Mexico in the 79th minute.

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Harshit BishtSenior Sub-editor

Harshit Bisht is a sports journalist with CNN-News18 since July 1, 2024, and covers cricket with a sharp eye for records, trends, and match analysis. Based in Noida, he has reported extensively on the...Read More

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