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Former stars reunite - Mexico and South Africa football legends rekindle World Cup fever ahead of opener

"World Cup nostalgia met pre-tournament anticipation on Sunday as Mexico and South Africa football legends faced off in a friendly game just days before their current national teams meet again in the opening match. Footage from Estadio Hidalgo shows former stars from both nations sharing the pitch, while fans cheered, waved flags and beat drums in a vibrant celebration of the countdown to the World Cup. "The World Cup feels very, I don't know, like it fills us all with happiness. It puts us in a festive mood and even more so now that we have it here as a host," one fan expressed. Former Mexico defender Francisco Javier Rodriguez recalled Mexico's memorable 2010 World Cup opener against South Africa, where the two sides played out a thrilling 1-1 draw in Johannesburg to launch the tournament. "Excited, remembering moments I lived in 2010 with a great team like South Africa," Rodriguez said. "I hope they enjoyed this event, this show. I think we gave our all in there." Mexico's legends emerged with a 5-2 victory. Colombian defender Oscar Murillo, a special guest for El Tri, opened the scoring before Luis Angel Landin doubled the lead. Pablo Barrera added two more goals before Landin sealed the victory. For South Africa, Siphiwe Tshabalala scored a penalty. The visitors added another goal in stoppage time, but Mexico's veterans comfortably held on for the win. The South African and Mexican national teams will face each other on June 11 in the opening match of the World Cup, which is set to be held at the iconic Estadio Azteca."