Mexico – South Africa: date, stadium, kick-off time and broadcast details for the friendly match

Mexico vs South Africa: on which channels can you watch the opening match of the 2026 World Cup?
World Cup 2026
Mohamed Rekhis
Mohamed Rek
News Editor
Mexico – South Africa: date, stadium, kick-off time and broadcast details for the friendly match
Mexico vs South Africa / @Foot Africa
11.06.26 15:00 World Cup
Mexico
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South Africa
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Find all the essential information about the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup between Mexico and South Africa: date, kick-off time, stadium, TV broadcast and live streaming platforms.

The 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup will kick off with a headline clash between Mexico, one of the tournament's three host nations, and South Africa. This curtain-raiser will take place on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at the legendary Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.

The match is set to begin at 19:00 GMT, officially launching the first ever World Cup featuring 48 national teams.

To officiate this highly anticipated encounter, FIFA has appointed Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio (44 years old).

The tournament will run until July 19, 2026, when the final will be held at the New York–New Jersey Stadium in the United States.

TV channels broadcasting the 2026 World Cup opener

The match between Mexico and South Africa will be broadcast live on a wide range of TV channels and platforms, including:

América Peru HD

Antena 1 Romania HD

Antena Play Live ($/geo/R)

Arena Premium 1 BiH HD

Arena Premium 1 Srbija HD

Arena Sport 1 BiH HD

Arena Sport 1 Slovenija HD

ATN (Ariana Television Network)

Azam Sports 2 HD

Azam Sports 4 HD

beIN Connect FRANCE

beIN Connect MENA

beIN Connect MENA HD

beIN Sports France 1 HD

beIN Sports MENA 4K UHD

beIN Sports MENA Max 1 HD

beIN Sports MENA Max 2 HD

beIN Sports MENA Max 5 HD

BNT 1 Bulgaria HD

BNT 3 Bulgaria HD

Canal 5 Mexico HD

Caracol Nacional

ChileVision

CT Sport Czech HD

CTV Canada HD

DAZN España ($/geo/R)

DAZN Mundial Espana HD

ENTV Algérie HD

ERT 1 Hellas HD

ERT 2 Sport Hellas HD

ETV Estonia

ETV+ Estonia

FOX Sports USA 4K

FOX TV USA 4K

Fox TV USA HD

Fussball.TV1 UHD

HRT 2 Hrvatska HD

Ictimai TV HD

IRIB TV3 HD

ITV 1 England HD

ITV X (geo/R)

JOJ TV Slovakia HD

JOJ Šport SVK HD

Jurnal TV Moldova

Klan Sport 1 HD

KTRK Kyrgystan

La 2 cat

La Nouvelle Chaîne Ivorienne

LaLiga TV Bar HD

M4 Sport Hungary HD

M6 France 4K UHD

M6 France HD

M6 Suisse HD

Magenta Sport ($/geo/R)

MATCH! Futbol 1 HD

MATCH! Premier HD

MATCH! Russia HD

Megogo Sport Ukraine HD

MTV 3 Suomi HD

MTV Katsomon+ ($/geo/R)

MTV Urheilu 1 Suomi HD

NHK BS Premium 4K

Nova Action HD

NOW Sports HK 4K 616

NPO 1 Nederland HD

OnePlay Sport 1 HD

ORF 1 Austria HD

ORF On ($/geo/R)

ORTB Benin

ORTM 1 Mali

Play RTS Sport (geo/R)

Qazaqstan TV HD

QazSport HD

RAI 1 Italia HD

RAI 4K UHD

RCN TV HD

RDS Canada

RSI La 2 Svizzera HD

RTBF La Une HD

RTK 1 Kosovo HD

RTS 1 Senegal HD

RTS 1 Srbija HD

RTS 2 Suisse HD

RTVE Play ($/geo/R)

RTÉ 2 Ireland HD

RTÉ Player (geo/R)

Rustavi 2

RUV 2 Sjonvarpid

SABC 1 HD

Setanta Sports 1 Georgia HD

Sigma TV Cyprus

Sky Sport 2 Deutsch HD

Sky Sport 3 Deutsch HD

Sky Sport 4 Deutsch HD

Slovenija TV2 HD

Sport 24 At Sea HD

Sport 24 In Flight HD

Sport TV Belarus

Sport TV1 Portugal HD

Sport TV5 Portugal HD

SporTV Brazil HD

SRF Zwei Schweiz HD

STV Player (geo/R)

STV Scotland HD

SuperSport 2 Albania HD

SuperSport Grandstand HD

SuperSport MáXimo 1 HD

SuperSport PSL HD

Telemundo USA

Teletica 7 (teletica.com/vivo)

TRT 1 Türkiye HD

TSN Canada 1 HD

TSN Canada 3 HD

TSN Canada 4 HD

TUDN Español USA

Turkmenistan Sport HD

TV Klan HD

TV2 Danmark HD

TV2 Direkte Norge HD

TV3 Lietuva HD

TV4 Play Sverige [online]

TV4 Play+ Sverige [online]

TV4 Sverige HD

TV6 Latvija

TVCG 1 HD

TVE La 1 HD España

TVE La 1 UHD 4K

TVNZ 1

TVP 1 Polska HD

TVP Sport Polska HD

TyC Sports Argentina

UTV Northern Ireland HD

Varzish TV Sport HD (tjk)

VRT 1 Belgium HD

We Sport Moldova ($/geo/R)

Z Sports 1 Angola

ZDF Deutschland HD

Zor TV Uzbekistan

Head-to-head history

The history between Mexico and South Africa counts four previous encounters, with "El Tri Color" winning two friendlies (4-0 in 1993 and 4-2 in 2000).

Mexico and South Africa have faced off four times. The "El Tri" squad won two friendlies: 4-0 in 1993 and 4-2 in 2000.

"Bafana Bafana," meanwhile, claimed victory in the first official meeting between the sides at the 2005 Gold Cup (2-1).

Finally, the most recent official clash took place in the opening match of the 2010 World Cup, ending in a draw (1-1).

2026 World Cup: How did South Africa fare in their opening group match?

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