The opening ceremony of the 2026 World Cup brought together various personalities from the international sports field at the facilities of the Mexico City Stadium. Among the attendees who came to watch the first match of the tournament, the Jalisco boxer Saúl Canelo Álvarez stood out, who entered the venue in the company of his wife for the debut of the local team.

The arrival of the super middleweight world champion caught the attention of the reporters in charge of the coverage prior to the opening whistle.

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During his journey to the box area, the athlete interacted with the fans who approached to request photographs before entering the stands of the old Azteca Stadium.

Statements about the expectations of the national team

In an interview given to the TUDN television network during the live broadcast from the vicinity of the playing field, the boxer established his position on the performance he expects from the tricolor team in this initial match against the representative of South Africa. The fighter showed confidence in the tactical approach designed by the coaching staff headed by Javier Aguirre.

“I am sure that Mexico will win,” said Canelo Álvarez before the television cameras when evaluating the chances of the local squad in its World Cup debut.

The statement was quickly spread through the television station's digital platforms, adding to the demonstrations of support from other athletes in the country.

The athlete's projection coincides with the atmosphere of optimism that was registered in the stands of the stadium during the hours prior to the FIFA formal ceremony. For the boxer, the home field factor represents a direct advantage that the players must capitalize on to secure the first three points in the group.

The joke about wearing the green shirt

In addition to sharing his analysis of the development of the match, the boxer used a sense of humor when addressing the alternatives that the team has in case of facing difficulties on the field of play. Canelo Álvarez joked about the possibility of contributing his physical preparation for the benefit of the national team.

“But I am ready to jump into the game if we are in trouble,” Canelo Álvarez commented with a laugh, figuratively referring to a possible intervention in the match.

The phrase generated interactions on social networks from fans, who took the statement as a sign of the athlete's commitment to national representations.

Canelo Álvarez's participation in the opening day activities concluded with his stay in the box assigned by the organizing committee to witness the official protocol of the federation.

The event marked the beginning of a series of matches that will be played in Mexican territory during the coming weeks of the summer calendar.