Well, the 2026 World Cup is officially rolling — and what an opening act. Mexico beat South Africa 2–0 at the legendary Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11, and honestly the scoreline wasn’t even the wildest part. Three red cards. In the opening match. A new World Cup record nobody asked for. But as a filming-locations obsessive, I lit up for a different reason: the Azteca and the city around it are stacked with movie history. Let me break down the match, the stadium, and the on-screen side of CDMX.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Result | Mexico 2–0 South Africa |
| Date | June 11, 2026 (tournament opener) |
| Venue | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| Scorers | Julián Quiñones (9′), Raúl Jiménez |
| Talking point | Three red cards — a World Cup opener first |
Fun footnotes: Quiñones became the first Concacaf player to score the very first goal of a World Cup edition, and 35-year-old Raúl Jiménez is now the oldest player to score on his first World Cup start. You can see the full match data on the official FIFA match centre.
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The only stadium on its THIRD World Cup
Here’s the stat that gives me chills. The Estadio Azteca hosted the 1970 final (Pelé’s Brazil at its peak) and the 1986 final (Maradona’s “Hand of God” and that ridiculous Goal of the Century). With 2026, it becomes the first stadium ever to host matches at three different men’s World Cups. If stadiums had IMDb pages, this one would have a lifetime achievement award.
Mexico City: a city that loves a camera
Now the part I actually clear my schedule for. Mexico City is a genuine A-list filming location:
- Spectre — that jaw-dropping Día de Muertos opening tracking shot was filmed right on the Zócalo. It was so popular the city started staging a real Day of the Dead parade afterward. Life imitating Bond.
- Roma — Alfonso Cuarón’s black-and-white masterpiece, shot in the Colonia Roma neighborhood he grew up in.
- Frida and the city’s countless telenovelas, plus the spirit that inspired Coco.
And if you want the soccer-and-screen crossover, we already mapped México 86, the series built around that iconic 1986 tournament at this very stadium. Talk about full circle. For the U.S. side of the opening weekend, here’s my USA vs Paraguay at SoFi Stadium guide too.
What’s next at the Azteca
The Azteca isn’t done — it hosts more group-stage matches through the first round, so Mexico City stays loud for weeks. Check the locked dates on the FIFA fixtures page, and browse our growing World Cup 2026 filming hub for every host city.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the 2026 World Cup opening match?
Mexico beat South Africa 2–0 at Estadio Azteca on June 11, 2026.
Why is Estadio Azteca so famous?
It hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals and is the first stadium ever to host matches at three different men’s World Cups.
What movies were filmed in Mexico City?
Spectre (the Day of the Dead opener on the Zócalo), Roma, Frida, and many more.
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