World Cup Kicks off in Mexico

June 12, 2026

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The biggest World Cup in history began today in Mexico City, where co-host Mexico played South Africa in the opening match at Mexico City Stadium, also known as Azteca Stadium. More than 80,000 fans travelled to the famous venue, even as protests and social tensions continued in Mexico’s capital. The tournament is being hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada.

Before the match, a lively opening ceremony featured performances by Shakira, Burna Boy and J Balvin. The stadium had been improved with a major facelift before the 48-team tournament began. Azteca Stadium also made history by becoming the first stadium to host three World Cup opening matches, after previously doing so in 1970 and 1986.

Mexico has now played in eight World Cup opening matches. Before this game, the team had lost five and drawn two of those openers, including a draw against South Africa at the 2010 World Cup. South Africa is returning to the World Cup for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2010.

Mexico entered the match in strong form, with an eight-match unbeaten run. The team had not lost since a friendly match against Paraguay last November. Mexico is led by 67-year-old coach Javier Aguirre, who is managing the national team for the third time.

Article written by Shem Banbury - Kiwi Kids News Editor

This article was written using AI as an assistive tool for research, writing, and proofreading.
The te reo Māori version of this article was translated with AI assistance. While care has been taken to keep it accurate, if you spot anything that doesn't read quite right, please let us know

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The class outdoor education trip began early on Tuesday at Lake Ōkārito. After a safety briefing, the students checked their life jackets and learnt how to paddle in a straight line. The water was calm at first, but a light wind picked up later in the morning. Even so, the group stayed together and followed the instructor’s directions. They stopped halfway for a short break and then completed the return trip to shore. Most students said the best part was gaining confidence in the kayaks and working as a team. The instructor praised their listening skills and steady effort throughout the morning.

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The class completed a kayak trip at Lake Ōkārito, followed safety instructions, and gained confidence by working together. The instructor was pleased because the students were already skilled at kayaking before the lesson started. The wind became strong enough that the trip had to be cancelled before the students entered the water. The students took a break halfway through the trip and then returned to shore.