World Cup 2026: Mexico make perfect start, Canada chase history, USMNT face tricky test

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is up and running, with Mexico drawing first blood on a hot opening night in Mexico City.

Day two promises plenty of storylines, from Canada’s quest for a first-ever World Cup victory to the United States’ exciting clash against Paraguay.

Read on as we round up Mexico’s opening-night triumph and preview three intriguing fixtures set to take centre stage on day two of the 2026 World Cup.

Mexico off to a dream start

Javier Aguirre could not have imagined a better way to get his farewell World Cup underway as goals on either side of half-time propelled co-hosts Mexico to a comfortable 2-0 win over South Africa at the Estadio Banorte.

In a repeat of the 2010 tournament opener, El Tri took an early lead through Al-Qadsiah forward Julian Quinones, who took advantage of Bafana Bafana’s sloppy attempt to play from the back.

Mexico’s high press forced a turnover just outside South Africa’s box, with Quinones slotting the ball through the legs of goalkeeper Ronwen Williams to put the home team in front.

Despite controlling the game from top to bottom, the Mexicans had to wait until the 67th minute for the second goal. Seasoned veteran Raul Jimenez, who came close to breaking the deadlock in the fifth minute, sealed his nation’s victory.

Jimenez headed home a delightful cross from Roberto Alvarado on the far post. It was plain sailing for Mexico in the final stages of this ill-tempered fixture, which saw players from both sides sent off.

South Africa midfielder Yaya Sithole received a straight red card at the start of the second half for bringing down Brian Gutierrez as the last man, while Mexico lost Cesar Montes to suspension in added time.

Canada seeking breakthrough in home setting

After a disastrous World Cup campaign in Qatar, Canada have a golden opportunity to make amends as they take on Bosnia and Herzegovina in their opening Group B outing at Toronto’s BMO Field.

Jesse Marsch, who took charge of the Canucks in 2024, could make history and lead Canada to their first-ever victory in the World Cup finals, as they’ve lost all six previous matches at the most prestigious international tournament.

With only El Salvador playing as many games with a 100% losing record at the final tournament, Canada cannot afford to take anything for granted despite heading into proceedings as favourites.

Ominously for the co-hosts, five of their six World Cup defeats have come against UEFA opposition, highlighting the magnitude of the task awaiting them in their first-ever encounter against Bosnia.

However, BMO Field has proven a happy hunting ground for Canada, who have lost just once in 28 matches there, collecting an eye-catching 18 wins along the way. Moreover, they’re currently on an eight-game unbeaten run at any venue.

USMNT keen to break SoFi Stadium curse

Eager to follow in the footsteps of Mexico and win their opening game on home soil, the United States will face Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in an exciting Group D curtain-raiser.

The USMNT have emerged victorious from their last three meetings with the CONMEBOL side, including a 2-1 friendly win in November 2025, setting themselves up perfectly for this highly anticipated clash.

Further confidence stems from the fact that they recorded their joint-largest World Cup win over this opposition with a 3-0 victory in 1930, but there’s no room for complacency.

SoFi Stadium might be a home venue for Mauricio Pochettino’s team, yet it’s worth noting that they’ve lost both internationals here in 2026 by a single-goal margin, which could be a potential reason for concern.

Bucking that trend would see the United States avoid defeat at the start of their World Cup campaign for the fourth time in a row, having done so in all three tournament appearances since 2010.

David vs Goliath

Levi’s Stadium sets the stage for Qatar’s fourth-ever World Cup game as they lock horns with perennial knockout contenders Switzerland in a lopsided Group B showdown.

Qatar made their World Cup debut in 2022 as a host nation, but they lost all three matches by an aggregate score of 7-1, and their pre-tournament form looks equally dire.

Julen Lopetegui’s side headed into the event on a six-game winless streak, suffering four defeats in that sequence. Qatar’s dreadful run of 11 games without a win in foreign lands paints an even bleaker picture for the Group B minnows.

On the other hand, Switzerland will be confident of reaching the knockout stages for a fourth consecutive World Cup, as they enter the tournament as favourites to finish top of this section.

With just one defeat from their last 13 internationals, Murat Yakin’s men are odds-on to get their North American journey off to a flyer, and history firmly backs them for success here.

Switzerland last lost their opening game at a World Cup in 1966, winning three times in six subsequent appearances, including a narrow 1-0 triumph over Cameroon four years ago.

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What to watch

After an awful season with Juventus, Jonathan David could leave Serie A in the coming months.

Last summer, he was one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe. However, his career has taken a dramatic downturn over the past 12 months.

This summer’s tournament could be an ideal opportunity for the former Lille star to get back on track, with the entire nation counting on him to spearhead Canada’s bid to make World Cup history on home soil.