News Focus
- Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 in the opening match at Estadio Azteca
- South Korea come from behind to defeat Czech Republic in Group A
- Somali referee denied US entry as political tensions affect tournament
- Raul Jimenez scores emotional first goal for Mexico at age 35
- Expanded 48-team format creates David vs Goliath match-ups
The greatest football tournament on the planet has begun. Mexico, one of the three host nations, started with a 2-0 victory over South Africa at the famous Estadio Azteca. Raul Jimenez, aged 35, scored an emotional goal. South Africa’s Yaya Sithole received a red card after a VAR check.
South Korea also enjoyed success. They beat the Czech Republic in Guadalajara after falling behind early. Midfielders Hwang In-Beom and Lee Kang-In played brilliantly to win the match.
But problems exist away from the pitch. The United States government stopped Somali referee Omar Artan from entering the country. Iran moved their training base to Mexico because of political issues. Security checks have caused difficulties for players from Senegal and Uzbekistan.
This is the first World Cup with 48 teams. There are twelve groups instead of eight. Smaller countries like Haiti and Cape Verde will play against giants such as Brazil and Spain. The final will take place in New Jersey next month.
Despite high ticket prices and travel costs, the football brings joy. The tournament reminds us why we love this sport. Two matches are complete. One hundred and two remain. The World Cup is here.