Yes, Mexico Did Play South Africa in a World Cup Opening Match — It's One of Football's Most Memorable Games

Mexico did play against South Africa in a World Cup opening match, and the claim checks out completely. The two sides met on June 11, 2010, to kick off the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Johannesburg — the first World Cup ever held on African soil. It was a moment the whole world was watching.

According to FIFA's official records, the match took place at Soccer City (now FNB Stadium) and ended 1-1. South Africa's Siphiwe Tshabalala scored what became one of the most celebrated goals in World Cup history — a thunderous left-footed strike that sent the stadium into a frenzy. Rafael Márquez equalized for Mexico in the second half.

BBC Sport and The Guardian both covered the match in detail at the time, and their reports confirm every element of the claim: the teams, the venue, the scoreline, and the scorers. There is no ambiguity here. This is a well-documented historical fact.

It is worth noting that despite the electric atmosphere of the opener, neither Mexico nor South Africa ultimately advanced from Group A. Uruguay topped the group with 7 points, while Mexico edged out South Africa on goal difference — both finishing on 4 points — sending the host nation home in the group stage.

This claim isn't misinformation — it's accurate history. If you've seen it questioned online, it may be confusion over which World Cup, or uncertainty about whether the host nation always plays in the opener (they do, by tradition). Tshabalala's goal remains so iconic that the match is frequently revisited, which keeps the memory alive and the facts easy to check.