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06/11 14:09 CDT World Cup begins with Mexico hosting South Africa in opening
match
World Cup begins with Mexico hosting South Africa in opening match
By CARLOS RODRIGUEZ
AP Sports Writer
MEXICO CITY (AP) --- The largest World Cup in tournament history kicked off
Thursday with co-host Mexico taking on South Africa in the opening match.
Amid escalating protests and social tensions in Mexico's capital, more than
80,000 fans made their way to Mexico City Stadium --- better known as Azteca
Stadium. It got a much-needed facelift ahead of the 48-team tournament that
Mexico is co-hosting alongside the United States and Canada.
The iconic venue will be the first stadium to host three World Cup openers ---
after doing so at the 1970 and 1986 tournaments.
It is the eighth opening match of a World Cup for the Mexicans, who had
previously lost five and drawn the last two, including against South Africa in
the 2010 World Cup.
South Africa is playing in its first World Cup since hosting the 2010
tournament. Bafana Bafana also played in the 1998 and 2002 editions.
Mexico arrived with an eight-match unbeaten streak and has not lost since last
November, when Paraguay beat them in a friendly.
The Mexican team is led by the 67-year-old coach Javier Aguirre, who is in his
third stint with the national team.
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AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
