🇲🇽 Mexico vs 🇿🇦 South Africa

Mexico are one of three host nations and play the tournament's opening match on June 11 at the Estadio Azteca — the same stadium where Maradona's Hand of God goal happened in 1986. They're not short of history at this venue.

Here is a fact so consistent it has become almost a national joke: Mexico have been knocked out in the round of 16 at seven consecutive World Cups. Seven. On home soil, the pressure to finally break that streak is absolutely enormous.

The classic Golden Generation of Mexican players from the 2010s is largely gone now. The squad is younger and less experienced, which is either a fresh start or a problem depending on how the opening matches go.

The atmosphere at Mexican home games is genuinely unlike almost anything else in football. The crowd will be deafening. This is a real advantage in the early stages, when the novelty hasn't worn off and the stadium is still buzzing.

They're in Group A with South Africa, South Korea and Czech Republic. It's winnable but not a certainty. Failing to advance as a host nation would be an embarrassment of historic proportions — which is exactly the kind of thing Mexico sometimes do anyway.

South Africa are at their first World Cup since 2010, when they hosted the tournament. A 16-year absence finally ended — and for a nation that gave the world the vuvuzela, this is a significant moment.

They're in Group A with Mexico, South Korea and Czech Republic. Qualifying isn't certain, but South Africa have the advantage of having played hard competitive matches in African qualifying. They're not underprepared.

The squad is built around Ronwen Williams in goal — who was the best goalkeeper at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and single-handedly kept South Africa in games they had no right to be in. Goalkeeper as most valuable player is a slightly sad distinction, but it's real.

South African football has faced real challenges domestically — the Premier Soccer League is less internationally prominent than other African leagues — but the national team's qualification suggests things are improving.

South African fans bring extraordinary atmosphere to games. The 2010 World Cup was arguably the most atmospherically memorable tournament in modern history. They will bring that same energy to their matches in North America, and it will be visible even on television.