It’s rolled around once again, the showpiece sporting event of the summer, and tomorrow (Thursday), for the next five weeks, the 23rd FIFA World Cup will captivate the globe. This World Cup is no different to the ones that have preceded it over the last 16 years; there has been some element of controversy surrounding the host nations, but from a sporting perspective, once the first ball is kicked from the centre circle tomorrow night at the Mexico City Stadium, all of the pre-tournament worries will be quickly swept aside.
Two games are the focal talking point of the opening night of action, as it so happens, the opening game, between Mexico and South Africa tomorrow night at 8pm, is the same fixture that kicked off the 2010 edition of the tournament, 16 years to the day when Siphiwe Tshabalala fired South Africa in front of Mexico in front of a raucous South African crowd, only for Rafael Marquez to rescue a draw and a point. Over a decade and a half later, and the equation has changed somewhat; this time Mexico are one of the co-hosts, and they’ll be looking to go past the Round of 16 for the first time since 1986, and South Africa are back for the first time since hosting in 2010.
Mexico’s squad is strong, led by Javier Aguirre and star player Raul Jimenez, currently a free agent after being released by Fulham earlier this week, but is almost nailed on to rejoin Championship side Wolves in England, are expecting to get past Hugo Brooos’ South African team, who from an outside perspective, don’t look like a team that will be able to challenge one of the three co-hosts. Pay attention to 17 year old Mexico wonderkid Gilberto Mora, who could make a significant impact from the start, or from the bench.
The second game on opening night is at 3am in Guadalajara, between South Korea and Czechia. Czechia return to the World Cup for the first time in 20 years, while South Korea are looking to go past the Round of 16, where they exited in 2022; and although a run to the third place playoff, the round they reached in 2002 when they were co-hosts with Japan is unlikely, they can certainly dream.
This match seems more competitive than the opener, both strikers have proven goalscoring pedigree, South Korea’s Hwang Hee Chan will face off against Czechia’s Patrick Schick, who bagged 16 goals in the German league this season. Elsewhere on the pitch, both teams are packed with talent and impact players, meaning that this game, despite its unfortunate kick-off time for an Irish and European audience, could be one of the games of the opening round.
Luke Watson will be keeping us up to date on World Cup 2026
