The Mexico national football team will face South Africa in the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The match between the Mexico national football team and the South Africa national football team revives the memory of the opening match of South Africa 2010, adding a touch of history to the debut of the tournament. Although in football anything can happen, the general perception is that Mexico arrives as a favorite to win. Under the direction of Javier Aguirre, the team has shown solidity and a competitive style that has impressed the fans ahead of the start of the World Cup. The Mexico national football team arrives with one of the most valuable teams in the Concacaf, with an approximate value of $225 million. This figure reflects the growth of the team, where experienced players and young promises who play in European leagues coexist, elevating the competitive level of the national team. On the other hand, South Africa presents a team with a value close to $57.8 million, far below the Mexican team. The South Africa national football team arrives with a mix of youth and emerging talent, with the intention of surprising despite the economic and experience difference. Inside the Mexican team, the player most outstanding in terms of market value is Santiago Giménez, with an estimated value of over $21 million. His presence in attack represents one of the main offensive arms of the team and one of the greatest hopes for a goal in the debut World Cup. The fever for the opening match has driven up the prices of tickets, which in resale go from $48,000 to over $280,000 in premium areas. The high demand has turned this match into one of the most coveted in the tournament, with VIP access exceeding $185,000 per person in some platforms.