Mexico open the tournament as hosts at the iconic Estadio Azteca. Historically, host nations perform exceptionally well in opening matches — winning 73% since 1998. Mexico's high-altitude home advantage and passionate crowd of 87,000 will create an intimidating atmosphere. South Africa, while tactically disciplined, have struggled against top CONCACAF sides. Our AI engine projects Mexico to dominate possession (62%) and create 2.4x more expected goals.