Football night at the stadium where history was written, Mexico and South Africa set off a spectacle

Mexico is looking to open its home World Cup with a victory tonight against South Africa (21 p.m. local time) in front of a crowd of over 80 spectators at the Azteca Stadium, where the World Cup is returning for the third time.

First match of the 1st round of Group A It marks a return to the biggest football stage for the iconic stadium, which hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals, and also brings back memories of the opening match of the 2010 World Cup, when South Africa drew 1-1 against Mexico in Johannesburg.

This time, the "sombreros" are the favorites to open the World Cup on their home turf - at over 2.200 meters above sea level - with a victory and perhaps win key points in the fight for first place in a group that also includes South Korea and the Czech Republic.

When the match starts, the cameras will zoom in on the face of the legendary Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who has been part of five World Cups, a starter in the previous three and remains one of the few players of “el tria” with proven authority at the highest level. His bravura against Brazil in the 2014 World Cup and his penalty save against Poland in Qatar have made him one of the greatest symbols of Mexican football on the world stage.

Mexico is unbeaten in its last eight matches, equaling its longest unbeaten streak ahead of the World Cup, which further encourages the team. Javier Aguirre before the tournament.

On the other hand, the South African coach Two sodas will experience a kind of career circle at the "Azteca" stadium, almost 40 years after he played against Mexico in the same arena as a Belgium player.

74

South Africa coach Hugo Bruce has the record, and tonight he will become the oldest coach in World Cup history. However, just a few hours later, his record will be broken by Czech Republic coach Miroslav Kubek by seven months, and on Sunday by Dick Advokat, by four years (78).

It was at the opening match of the 1986 World Cup, when Belgium lost 2-1 to Mexico. Boro Milutinovic.

"It was a fantastic event that I will never forget. That was when I felt how special the World Cup was, we played in front of 110 spectators. I was overjoyed as a player, motivated and excited. Now I'm here again, 40 years later - it's incredible that it happened," said the 74-year-old Bruce at a press conference. The Belgian will, at least for a few hours, become the oldest coach at a World Cup.

Because, just a few hours later, in Guadalajara (5 am our time) the Czech coach Miroslav Mug will in the match against South Korea "break" the record in seven months. However, a new record holder will enter the scene on Sunday - a 78-year-old Dick Lawyer, selector Kurasaa.

Bruce announced that he would end his coaching career after the tournament, which he also promised his family.

"I've often thought about retiring in recent years. I don't have the energy anymore," he said, adding that he sometimes finds it difficult to even prepare for matches.