Opening Match of World Cup 2026 Threatened by Postponement

The opening match of the World Cup between South Africa and the host Mexico faced threats of postponement. According to BILD, multiple reasons could explain this situation: in addition to adverse weather conditions, local unrest might also interfere with the smooth conduct of the match.

The World Cup was scheduled to begin on Thursday at 19:00 (GMT) at the iconic Azteca Stadium with a group match pitting South Africa's Bafana Bafana against Mexico.

Concerns over thunderstorms in Mexico have developed. Authorities raised alarms primarily due to anticipated weather conditions. Violent storms have impacted Mexico City for several days, and heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected in the coming days. The German newspaper BILD even mentioned a hurricane potentially forming in the Gulf of Mexico or the United States. "Streets are flooded, subway lines are temporarily closed, and some stations are completely shut down," the newspaper reported. "Authorities have repeatedly urged residents to avoid flooded streets and exercise extreme caution. Instead of a fairytale summer, hundreds of thousands of fans risk being subjected to rain at the World Cup kickoff."

BILD expressed serious doubts about the possibility of the World Cup commencing on Thursday evening. This situation is tied to a political crisis currently shaking Mexico. Teachers have been protesting for weeks against pension reform, and there are fears of blockades from truck drivers and farmers.

Moreover, families of over 130,000 missing persons in Mexico hope to use the World Cup to bring attention to their plight. Despite these concerns, preparations continue to move forward. Estadio Azteca will open its doors on Thursday morning, and a grand opening ceremony is set to take place before kickoff, featuring Shakira performing the official World Cup song. The tournament will follow, marking the largest World Cup in history, with 48 teams and a total of 104 matches. The event will run from June 11 to July 19 across 16 different cities.