The 2026 World Cup commences with co-host Mexico facing South Africa at the Estadio Azteca. The article also touches upon Africa's largest team representation and repatriation efforts in South Africa.

In tonight's edition,  the World Cup kicks off with co-hosts Mexico taking on South Africa in front of 80,000 fans at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Also,  as Africa sends the most teams that it ever has to the tournament, we revisit the legacy of the first team from the continent to head to the World Cup. And hundreds of Nigerians are repatriated from escalating anti-immigrant unrest in South Africa.