Almost eight years to the day after they were named as joint hosts alongside the United States and Canada, Mexico got the 2026 World Cup under way with a 2-0 win over South Africa in a match that saw three red cards brandished by the referee.
With their homefield advantage, Mexico have been backed by many to make an impression at the tournament, and they got off to a good start in Group A in front of the eyes of the world.
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The weeks leading into the tournament have been dominated by off-field issues, but the football took centre stage once the match kicked off in Mexico City.
Schools in the capital were closed and government workers told to work from home in an effort to ease traffic around a city dealing with an influx of supporters, media and VIPs.
Mexico's Group A rivals South Korea and Czechia begin their World Cup campaigns when they face off in Guadalajara in the early hours of Friday morning in the UK.
The World Cup's other host countries, the United States and Mexico play their openers later on Friday when they take on Paraguay and Bosnia-Herzegovina, respectively.
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