2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off: Simon Jordan discusses US soccer growth
Talksport host Simon Jordan discusses the 2026 FIFA World Cup kickoff in Mexico and highlights its huge global and growing American influence. Jordan notes soccer’s rise to the third most popular sport in America, surpassing baseball and hockey. He is optimistic about the record-breaking tournament, which is expected to sell 6.5 million tickets despite previous World Cup challenges.
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The World Cup is underway, with the event starting in Mexico, and the first goal seemed to be a kind of destiny.
Shortly after the crowd in Mexico City joined in singing the national anthem, Mexico scored the first goal of the tournament in just the ninth minute.
The pitch was tilted at the start, with Mexico already having two corners, and on another trip to the South African side of the box it found the back of the net.
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Julian Quinones celebrates with teammates after scoring Mexico’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A match against South Africa at Mexico City Stadium on June 11, 2026. (Carl Recine/Getty Images)
A pass from the South Africa goalkeeper got away from a teammate and was picked out by Erik Lira. The ball was then picked up by Julian Quinones, who took just one dribble towards the center of the box and ripped a right-footed shot into the net, setting off the crowd.
Quinones ran to his bench and was mobbed by his teammates.
In its World Cup history, Mexico has won 14 of the 22 matches in which it has scored first and drawn five others.
Estadio Azteca, renamed the Mexico City Stadium for the tournament, hosted the tournament’s opening ceremonies, with all 48 competing countries represented. FIFA President Gianni Infantino was in the building with the FIFA World Cup Trophy.
Julian Quinones celebrates scoring Mexico’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A match against South Africa at Mexico City Stadium on June 11, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Hector Vivas/FIFA)
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Grammy Award winner Alejandro Fernandez sang the national anthem while the Mexican players wrapped arms around each other and sang in unison. The crowd did the same, and even a member of the Mexican honor guard was caught singing the anthem.
Understandably, several were seen either letting the tears flow or holding them back as best they could.
Thursday’s game in Mexico marked the first of a total of 104 games from now until the final at MetLife Stadium, or New York New Jersey Stadium, on July 19.
Mexico are coming off a disappointing trip to Qatar as it was the first time since 1978 that they participated in a World Cup and failed to reach the knockout stages. Apart from its exclusion in 1990 and failure to qualify in 1982, it had made it past the group stage in nine of the World Cups it played in.
Mexico’s forward Julian Quinones celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the 2026 World Cup Group A match against South Africa at the Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City on June 11, 2026. (Rodrigo Oropeza/AFP via Getty Images)
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It has never made it to the semifinals, most recently in the quarters in 1986.
