The 2026 World Cup is finally here. The tournament kicks off on Thursday in Mexico City with a Group A clash between Mexico and South Africa at 7:00 PM GMT. It's a rematch of the very first game of the 2010 World Cup, which South Africa hosted.

This edition is historic for one big reason: it's the first World Cup to feature 48 teams instead of 32. That means more countries, more matches, and more chances for underdogs to shine.

Ten African nations are in the mix: Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Cape Verde, DR Congo, and South Africa. That's the highest African representation ever at a World Cup.

The tournament is being hosted across three countries: the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Matches will be played in 16 cities, from Los Angeles to Toronto to Guadalajara.

On Friday, Canada takes on Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto, while the United States faces Paraguay in Los Angeles. Saturday brings heavyweights Brazil vs Morocco in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Other standout group-stage matches include England vs Croatia on June 17, France vs Senegal on June 16, and Argentina vs Algeria on June 16. The group phase runs from June 11 to June 27, with knockout rounds to follow.

For African fans, the opening match is a special one. South Africa and Mexico met in the 2010 World Cup opener, a 1-1 draw. Now they face off again, 16 years later, on a different continent.

African Teams and Their Groups

Here's where each African team landed in the draw:

  • Group C: Morocco (vs Brazil, Haiti, Scotland)
  • Group E: Ivory Coast (vs Germany, Curacao, Ecuador)
  • Group F: Tunisia (vs Netherlands, Japan, Sweden)
  • Group G: Egypt (vs Belgium, Iran, New Zealand)
  • Group H: Cape Verde (vs Spain, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay)
  • Group I: Senegal (vs France, Iraq, Norway)
  • Group J: Algeria (vs Argentina, Austria, Jordan)
  • Group K: DR Congo (vs Portugal, Uzbekistan, Colombia)
  • Group L: Ghana (vs England, Croatia, Panama)

South Africa is in Group A alongside Mexico, South Korea, and Czech Republic.

Key Fixtures to Watch

  • June 11: Mexico vs South Africa (Mexico City)
  • June 13: Brazil vs Morocco (East Rutherford)
  • June 16: France vs Senegal (East Rutherford)
  • June 16: Argentina vs Algeria (Kansas City)
  • June 17: England vs Croatia (Arlington)
  • June 17: Ghana vs Panama (Toronto)
  • June 23: Portugal vs DR Congo (Houston)
  • June 23: England vs Ghana (Foxborough)

All kickoff times are in GMT. The tournament runs through the knockout stages, and the final is scheduled for July 19 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.