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Opinion National Interest PoV 50-Word Edit

ThePrint On Camera Videos In Pictures

Society & Culture Around Town Book Excerpts Vigyapanti The Dating Story

More Judiciary Education YourTurn Work With Us Campus Voice

Mexico’s wait for Day 1 win in the FIFA World Cup is over. Football takes its own sweet time

Mexico wanted to end their winless Day 1 run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and finally had the chance to ‘settle the score’ against South Africa in front of 80,824 fans.

Mexico edged past South Africa 2-0 in the opening fixture of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The win felt like a sweet revenge, for which Mexico had been waiting for 16 years. But the bigger story is Mexico’s wait for 96 years to win an opening fixture at the world’s biggest football tournament. 

Mexico has played in the opening fixture of the FIFA World Cup a record eight times, starting with 1930.

In 2010, when South Africa became the first African nation to host the FIFA World Cup, nobody thought they would go on to score a banger on Day 1 and hold Mexico for a 1-1 draw. The Mexicans, however, were denied a flying start and also could not break their jinx of a winless Day 1. It was probably their best chance, but Siphiwe Tshabalala’s stunning strike from the edge of the box to the top-right corner broke several hearts.

Commentator Peter Drury perfectly captured that moment. “Goal for all of Africa!” he had........

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