Mexico's super stadium the right choice for 2026 World Cup opener

Many football fans around the world, including in South Africa, mistakenly believe that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted solely by the United States. In fact, the tournament will be co-hosted by three North American countries: Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City will host the opening match on Thursday, June 11, 2026. With a capacity of 87,000, it will become the first stadium in World Cup history to host three opening matches, having previously done so in 1970 and 1986. The opening ceremony at Estadio Azteca promises to celebrate Mexico’s rich football heritage while offering a glimpse into the broader cultural legacy of the Americas. Expect the ceremony to showcase elements of Aztec history. The Aztecs, also known as the Mexica—the root of the modern name “Mexico”—were the architects of a sophisticated Mesoamerican civilization centered in what is now central and southern Mexico. Their capital, Tenochtitlan, was founded in 1325, and their society thrived until the Spanish conquest in 1521. The Aztec civilization contributed significantly to the world’s knowledge and culture. Innovations such as the chinampa system of floating gardens, step pyramids, a 260-day religious calendar, the macuahuitl weapon, and extensive canoe transportation networks reflect their advanced society. Education was mandatory and comprehensive, blending practical skills with religious and military instruction. The 2026 World Cup will conclude with the final match on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA, bringing together fans from across the globe to celebrate the beautiful game.

Soweto giants Chiefs, Pirates share Lubumbashi spotlight

South Africa’s biggest football clubs, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, find themselves in a rare shared situation this weekend — both are in Lubumbashi, DR Congo, for continental battles. First off the mark are Chiefs, who on Saturday meet AS Simba in the CAF Confederation Cup at the TP Mazembe Stadium. Kick-off is at 3pm SA time. On Sunday, Pirates take on Saint Eloi Lupopo in the CAF Champions League at the 35,000-capacity Stade Frédéric Kibassa Maliba. While Lupopo are based in Lubumbashi — the DRC’s second-largest city after Kinshasa — Simba hail from Kolwezi, about 300km northwest of Lubumbashi. They have been forced to stage their CAF home fixtures in Katanga’s capital because their home province, Lualaba, lacks a CAF-approved stadium. Simba booked their spot in the 2025–26 CAF Confederation Cup by winning the Coupe du Congo, the national cup competition, defeating MK Kinshasa 1–0 in the final. Jacques Mangoba netted the decisive goal in the 90th minute, sealing both the trophy and a US$250,000 (about R4.3 million) first prize. Lupopo, meanwhile, are traditional rivals of TP Mazembe. Both clubs were founded in 1939, and their meetings in the famed Lubumbashi derby remain among the fiercest in African football. The two sides once shared the city-run Stade Frédéric Kibassa Maliba before TP Mazembe owner Moïse Katumbi funded the construction of the club’s own modern ground, the TP Mazembe Stadium, opened in 2011. The two venues are just 4km apart, located in the neighbouring Lubumbashi communes of Kenya and Kalamondo respectively. Though TP Mazembe Stadium holds just 18,500 fans, it is widely rated among the best football facilities in Central Africa, featuring modern dressing rooms, VIP suites, covered stands, a press centre and advanced floodlights. Both the Pirates and Chiefs fixtures are part of the second preliminary round, with the winners advancing to the group stages of the Champions League and Confederation Cup respectively. It would be refreshing to see the two Soweto giants cast aside their rivalry, if only briefly, and support each other in Congo. Meanwhile, two other South African clubs are also in continental action this weekend. Stellenbosch FC (Confederation Cup) visit 15 de Agosto in Equatorial Guinea at the 8,000-capacity Estadio de Ebibeyin on Saturday (4pm SA time), while Mamelodi Sundowns (Champions League) face Nigerian champions Remo Stars at the MKO Abiola International Stadium in Abeokuta on Sunday (5pm SA time). The venue, located in the hometown of the late music legend Fela Kuti, seats only 10,000 — a setting that could make Sundowns feel right at home. Good luck to all four South African clubs flying the flag in Africa.