culture
World Cup begins with Mexico hosting South Africa in opening match
By Kevin Boulandier at WSVN 7 News
· June 11, 2026
· 1 min read
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 S
Key takeaway 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.
Why this matters in The Miami
Miami's large Latin American community is likely to be closely following the World Cup, particularly with Mexico's involvement as a co-host. The city's Little Havana neighborhood may see an influx of fans gathering to watch matches, adding to the area's already vibrant cultural scene. As Mexico takes on South Africa in the opening match, local businesses may benefit from the increased interest in the tournament. Miami's own soccer fans will be watching the Mexican team's performance, given the city's strong connections to Latin America and its own growing soccer community. The World Cup's presence may also spark discussions about the potential for Miami to host major international soccer events in the future, potentially leveraging its existing stadiums and infrastructure to attract global tournaments. With its diverse population and thriving cultural scene, Miami could be an attractive location for future soccer events.
About this story
Original reporting by WSVN 7 News . The Miami surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WSVN 7 News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: culture ·
Published: June 11, 2026 ·
Source: WSVN 7 News ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? 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 S
When was this published? This article was first published on June 11, 2026 by WSVN 7 News and curated for The Miami readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Kevin Boulandier at WSVN 7 News. To learn more about how The Miami selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more culture coverage from The Miami, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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