Mexico City’s historic Azteca Stadium will become the epicenter of international soccer on June 11, when the Mexican national team faces South Africa in the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This momentous match will not only draw more than 70,000 spectators to the iconic venue that has hosted two historic finals, but it will also capture the attention of millions of fans in the United States looking for the best ways to watch the live coverage. For U.S. audiences, the live broadcast will be available via free-to-air television channels and authorized online streaming platforms, making it easy to access the game from any device today. In addition to local broadcast times and the official U.S. channel guide, anticipation is building around the confirmed lineups that the Mexican team will field in its debut as a co-host. Following every detail of this opening match is essential for soccer fans living in the U.S. who don’t want to miss the start of the world’s biggest sporting event.
Date, time, and context of the Mexico vs. South Africa match for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
The opening game for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Mexico facing South Africa will be played on June 11, 2026, at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The official kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time (12:00 p.m. PT).
TV channels & Streaming in the United States (English and Spanish) for the Mexico vs. South Africa match for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
If you live in the United States, the Mexico vs. South Africa clash for Group A’s Matchday 1 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be broadcasted and streamed in english and spanish on FS1, Telemundo, Telemundo App, FOX, Peacock, FOX One, Universo, Telexitos, fuboTV, Tubi & Futbol de Primera Radio.
Where to Watch Mexico vs South Africa for the 2026 FIFA World Cup around the world
- South Africa: SABC 3 (Free-to-air), SABC Plus (Stream), SuperSport (Pay-TV)
- Mexico: TelevisaUnivision, TV Azteca
- United Kingdom: BBC, ITV
- Australia: SBS, SBS On Demand (Free Stream)
- Canada: CTV, TSN, RDS
Mexico vs South Africa starting lineups
| MEXICO | POSITION | SOUTH AFRICA |
|---|---|---|
| Raul Rangel | Goalkeeper | Ronwen Williams |
| Cesar Montes, Johan Vasquez, Israel Reyes, Jesus Gallardo | Defenders | Aubrey Mobida, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Khuliso Mudau, Ime Okon |
| Erick Lira, Alvaro Fidalgo, Brian Gutierrez | Midfielders | Teboho Mokoena, Spephelo Sithole, Jayden Adams |
| Raul Jimenez, Julian Quinonez, Roberto Alvarado | Forwards | Lyle Foster, Iqraam Rayners |
