The much-awaited 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup kicks off on Thursday, 11th June, at the Estadio Barnote in Mexico City. Co-host Mexico will play
The much-awaited 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup kicks off on Thursday, 11th June, at the Estadio Barnote in Mexico City. Co-host Mexico will play in a record sixth opening-round match at a World Cup when they face South Africa, having played in the 1930, 1950, 1958, 1970, and 2010 editions.
Cameroon was the first side from Africa to play in a World Cup opening game when François Omam-Biyik’s goal in the 67th minute shocked Diego Maradona’s Argentina, who were the defending champions, in a 1-0 defeat.
USA and Costa Rica are the other two teams from the CONCACAF region to play in a World Cup opening game. The Americans were beaten 7- 1 by Italy in Rome in 1934, while Germany defeated Costa Rica in Berlin in 2006 by 4-2.
Mexico has lost three and drawn two of the five matches played, while South Africa drew their only opening game of a World Cup when they secured a 1-1 draw against El Tri.
Check out all the opening matches of the FIFA World Cup since its inception in 1930;
| Year | Host City / Country | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | Montevideo, Uruguay | France vs Mexico | 4–1 |
| 1934 | Rome, Italy | Italy vs USA | 7–1 |
| 1938 | Paris, France | Germany vs Switzerland | 1–1 |
| 1950 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Brazil vs Mexico | 4–0 |
| 1954 | Lausanne, Switzerland | Yugoslavia vs France | 1–0 |
| 1958 | Solna, Sweden | Sweden vs Mexico | 3–0 |
| 1962 | Santiago, Chile | Chile vs Switzerland | 3–1 |
| 1966 | London, England | England vs Uruguay | 0–0 |
| 1970 | Mexico City, Mexico | Mexico vs Soviet Union | 0–0 |
| 1974 | Frankfurt, West Germany | Brazil vs Yugoslavia | 0–0 |
| 1978 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | West Germany vs Poland | 0–0 |
| 1982 | Barcelona, Spain | Argentina vs Belgium | 0–1 |
| 1986 | Mexico City, Mexico | Bulgaria vs Italy | 1–1 |
| 1990 | Milan, Italy | Argentina vs Cameroon | 0–1 |
| 1994 | Chicago, USA | Germany vs Bolivia | 1–0 |
| 1998 | Saint-Denis, France | Brazil vs Scotland | 2–1 |
| 2002 | Seoul, South Korea | France vs Senegal | 0–1 |
| 2006 | Munich, Germany | Germany vs Costa Rica | 4–2 |
| 2010 | Johannesburg, South Africa | South Africa vs Mexico | 1–1 |
| 2014 | São Paulo, Brazil | Brazil vs Croatia | 3–1 |
| 2018 | Moscow, Russia | Russia vs Saudi Arabia | 5–0 |
| 2022 | Al Khor, Qatar | Qatar vs Ecuador | 0–2 |
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