PORTALBERITA.CO.ID - The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially began on June 12, 2026, with the opening fixture at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, marking the start of the global football festival. The crucial moment arrived nine minutes into the match when South Africa’s Sphephelo Sithole was dispossessed, allowing Julián Quiñones to score the tournament's first goal past goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
This initial goal raised the question of whether the football action could immediately overshadow the significant organizational and geopolitical tensions preceding the event. However, the article suggests that concerns regarding the aggressive hosting approach and external global conflicts were far from receding.
As reported by Liam Alexander, the tournament's organization felt notably disjointed, citing chaotic traffic, absent signage, and a lack of functional WiFi at the Azteca. This shambolic execution is partly attributed to FIFA President Gianni Infantino's decision to run the tournament without a local organizing committee, a unique choice in modern World Cup history.
Despite the evident organizational shortcomings, the Mexican supporters were jubilant following their comfortable victory over a highly disappointing South African side. As Liam Alexander noted regarding the opening ceremony’s voiceover, "Football unites us all," implicitly contrasting this sentiment with the exclusivity of the event for those who can afford the high ticket prices.
The atmosphere leading up to the match was thick with history and color, despite a large FIFA sign casting a "dystopian" shadow over the pitch before the game commenced. The Estadio Azteca itself retains a powerful sense of heritage, recalling legendary moments from past tournaments involving figures like Pelé and Diego Maradona.
Outside the venue, the scene was one of "merry chaos," featuring mariachi bands, costumed revelers, and long queues for refreshments, indicating immense local excitement. Inside, the stadium was awash in green, white, and orange sombreros, despite a noticeable number of empty seats being present as the countdown concluded.
The on-field action quickly intensified when Sithole’s early error led to Mexico's opener, and his troubles worsened in the second half when he received a red card four minutes after the restart for fouling Brian Gutiérrez. According to Liam Alexander, this dismissal effectively extinguished any faint hopes South Africa harbored of recovering from the deficit.
Raúl Jiménez capitalized on Mexico's dominance, heading home the second goal from a Roberto Alvarado cross, solidifying the hosts' advantage. The match concluded with further disciplinary issues, as Themba Zwane and Mexico’s César Montes both received late red cards, leaving the final score reflecting a stern, if somewhat messy, opening win for the hosts.
