This FIFA World Cup 2026™ is set to be a major one for key and emerging players. Join your host Haylena Krishnamoorthy for this episode of World Cup Daily | The 90+ Podcast, as she breaks down the opening match atmosphere, Mexico and South Africa's match with three red cards, and South Korea vs Czech Republic's game. Will we see more players being sent off the pitch? And will South Korea see Son Heung-Min make a difference in matches moving forward?
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TRANSCRIPT
Colombian sensation Shakira headlined the FIFA World Cup 2026... alongside Nigerian artist Burna Boy performing their official song of the tournament 'Dai Dai' at Mexico City's Azteca stadium.
Miguel Pacheco: "I think it's going to be 3-1 Mexico.
Erika: "Mexico is winning."
That's Miguel Pacheco and his wife Erika with their predictions for Mexico's opening game with South Africa today.
They weren't entirely wrong - except Mexico won by 2-0.
Pacheco moved to Australia a decade ago with his wife, and holds his country close to his heart.
He believes they can make it past the group stage.
"Maybe to the round of 8 I think, maybe quarter finals, that would be amazing."
They live in Sydney with their two-year-old daughter Olivia, but have family members back home.
“My family is going to the first game and some of the group games for Mexico, they are also going to semi-finals, everyone is really excited over there."
Erika tells me Pacheco went to Russia's 2018 World Cup, and the prices today are double to triple what he had to pay for his tickets at the time.
"It was a little bit difficult for everyone because tickets were supposed to be way cheaper, we were also thinking of going there but ticket prices were insane."
I also spoke about this to Alfonso at the Matildas-Mexico game on Tuesday.
He's been living in Australia for nine years now.
"It's crazy, it's offensive, I don't know of many Mexicans that can afford the tickets in Mexico, so I don't know who's buying these tickets, but it's bloody expensive. It's totally unfair, they're doing a disservice to the World Cup by setting these prices. If that's the word that I'll be using, it's called offensive."
But he tells me he's going back to Mexico on Sunday, for Colombia's match against DRC [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] in Guadalajara.
There are about 6,845 people born in Mexican living in Australia.
And that's according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Luis Moreno shared with me that although he has been in Australia for three and a half years, he's proud of Mexico being a host nation as his heart belongs in his home country.
"I'm existed because I was a kid when Mexico hosted a World Cup in 1986, and I could not believe I would see Mexico host another World Cup again, it's not practically 40 years."
Today, at the Azteca stadium - which hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals - you could feel the energy hours before kickoff.
More than 80,000 fans were fuelled by adrenaline in the newly renovated stadium..
..as they waved their flags with pride and voices, carrying across a city that knows what World Cup history feels like.
Pacheco again.
"They scored really great goals at that time, it will be really amazing to watch something like that again, people are going crazy again and people are welcoming like - I don't know if you heard about that, the South African team was received with mariachis.. Different teams are receiving lots of congratulations and chanting and all the Mexicans - we are really happy to be hosting the World Cup."
For Mexico, this is about expectation as host nation, playing on home soil, carrying the weight of history...
...and the pressure to deliver more than just a moment.
…to this today, with Raul Jimenez scoring the second goal for Mexico.
Erika and Pacheco share their favourite players in the Mexican team.
"I'm going to say Jimenez, number nine, and their goalkeeper (40 year-old, Guillermo) Ochoa because it's his 6th World Cup. Also pay attention on a guy that just turned 17-years-old, Gilberto Mora, he was about to play, to be able to play three different World Cups in less than one year because he was under-17 last year and he was playing under-20 World Cup and he will be playing in this one, he's a promise."
Emotional scenes as Jimenez dedicated his goal to his father who recently passed away.
Only four red cards were shown in the entire Qatar 2022 World Cup..
..but in the opening match today, three red cards were handed out.
South Africa's players Yaya Sithole at the 49th minute, Themba Zwane at the 84th minute and Mexico's César Montes at stoppage time.
Mexico manager Javier Aguirre says emotions were running high on the pitch.
"Never in 25 games have we had players suffer from cramps and here we had three with cramps. It’s a very strong emotional state - very intense to be there, looking up, making mistakes on easy passes. It shows that the pressure weighed on them a little, not on everyone, but on the scene. Fortunately, they calmed down. We kept possession, we got into the opponent's goal 16 times, and we have a lot of passes, a lot of possessions. We really never suffered at the back. That honestly, it was a 2-0 game, but it could have been 4-0 and nobody would have said otherwise right?"
South Africa head coach Hugo Broos also questions the refereeing decision.
"The first red card, I think you have to accept it, it's a player who's going alone to the goal and Yaya fouled him, that I can understand. But the second, I think you can discuss because it's the player, the Mexican player who blocked my player. It's the decision of the referee we have to accept it also. But I don't think the other side, it's too soft to give that the red card."
While Mexico City was alive, and the streets around the stadium were packed with supporters draped in national colors, singing, dancing, and celebrating football's biggest event..
Inside the ground, the noise was relentless.
Every touch, every tackle, every attack was met with a roar from tens of thousands of fans eager to be part of World Cup history.
But outside it was a different story,..
.. shortly before kickoff, thousands of fans attempted to enter the official World Cup fan zone.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum who was expected to attend, was not at the stadium - as she navigates geopolitical tensions in the country.
It follows protests that erupted across the city in the lead up to the events.
Local residents say authorities have prioritised the competition over pressing social needs.
For South Africa, the match meant something else.
It’s representation and opportunity.
A chance to shift the spotlight, even briefly - away from football’s traditional power centres.
They have geared up for this day - being their first successful World Cup qualification in 16 years.
The last time they played was as automatic qualifiers in 2010, when they hosted the World Cup.
From the emotion of opening night in Mexico City, to something more controlled and precise.
South Korea has made a come back from a goal, with a 2-1 win over Czech Republic.
Substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu scoring the winning goal ten minutes before the game ended.
And In-Beom Hwang scored their first goal in the 67th minute.
Two teams. Two systems.
Both built on discipline, but shaped by very different football cultures.
And unfortunately we didn't see a goal today from one of Asia's greatest-ever footballers, Son Heung-min [[SUNH Heung-min]].
The Tottenham Hotspur legend is playing his fourth FIFA World Cup.
South Korea brings speed, structure, relentless energy - they’re a team that reflects a football culture built on intensity and evolution.
And Czech Republic?
They took their lead through captain Ladislav Krejci in the 59th minute.
Compact. Tactical. Clinical.
A side that leans into organisation, patience and moments that matter.
But this isn’t just about systems on a pitch.
It’s about identity.
Four nations with proud football histories, now navigating a global game that’s changing fast.
Looking ahead, Canada's captain and Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies is set to miss his opener against Bosnia due to an injury.
Japan suffers the same fate, with Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo [[wa TAH roo EHN do]] injured and was forced to withdraw from playing.
And the football world and fans are still left wondering if Brazil's legend Neymar will make his opener against Morocco this weekend.
And tomorrow you can watch US vs Paraguay and Canada vs Bosnia at SBS ON Demand.
I'll be back with you on Sunday for the latest on the matches, including the Socceroos' opening match against Turkiye.
Stay tuned for the latest at World Cup Daily | The 90+ Podcast.
For latest World Cup news, check out SBS News Headlines, wherever you get your podcasts.
