Mexico Wins Opener as USA, Canada Prepare for 2026 World Cup Debuts
Published June 12, 2026
The highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially begun, with co-host Mexico securing a victory in their opening fixture, setting the stage for the United States and Canada to begin their campaigns today.
Published — local time around the world
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is officially underway, bringing the global football spectacle to North American soil. The tournament kicked off with an engaging opening ceremony in Mexico, followed by the first match where the host nation, El Tri, delivered a strong performance to secure an opening win.
Mexico faced South Africa in their initial Group Stage encounter, emerging victorious with a 2-0 scoreline. Raúl Jiménez was instrumental in their triumph, finding the back of the net. The match, however, was not without its drama, reportedly featuring three red cards, indicating a fiercely contested affair to begin the tournament.
Following Mexico's successful start, attention now turns to the other two host nations. Canada is scheduled to play Bosnia and Herzegovina this afternoon at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. Later in the evening, the United States Men's National Team (USMNT) will make their tournament debut, taking on Paraguay at 9 p.m. Eastern Time. Both matches mark significant moments for the host countries as they embark on their World Cup journeys in front of their home crowds, hoping to emulate Mexico's winning start.