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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) \u2014 Sixteen years to the date that South Africa<\/a> hosted Mexico<\/a> for the start of the 2010 World Cup, Mexico hosted South Africa for the start of this year\u2019s World Cup. Fans in Bakersfield came out in full support.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Hosted across Canada<\/a>, the U.S. and Mexico, the 2026 World Cup kicked off in Mexico City, drawing in support from fans in town.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m so excited that it\u2019s here, it\u2019s so fun. The World Cup is the best time every four years that we experience,\u201d said Tim Douhan, the owner of Bakersfield Beer Company.<\/p>\n A strong presence of Mexican supporters cheered on as their national team finished the opening match 2-0 over South Africa. For some, the result still had something left to be desired.<\/p>\n Mexico gets off to roaring World Cup start with a 2-0 win over South Africa in the opening match <\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI was expecting a little better to be honest, because South Africa is not a great team; but it was great. At the end of the day it was great, a great soccer game,\u201d said Roger Magana, a local resident and Argentina<\/a> supporter.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Still the enjoyment and energy that the World Cup injects was contagious.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople come out of the woodwork to support their teams, whatever team it is. Which we love,\u201d said Tara Douhan, co-owner of Bakersfield Beer Company.<\/p>\n And for lifelong soccer fans from Bakersfield, they\u2019re happy to see that be the case.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s taken a lot of years for people to get used to soccer, and soccer being the king sport of all sports. I\u2019ve been around long enough to tell you that soccer was rejected many years ago. Now everybody accepts it, everybody absorbs it, everybody embraces it,\u201d said Danny Sanchez, a regular at Bakersfield Beer Co. and Mexico team supporter.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n For many, it means embracing the tournament with cultural and family pride.<\/p>\n \u201cIt means everything for my daughter, my dad, my brother, it means everything,\u201d said Nicholas Ramirez, who was watching the Mexico match alongside his daughter.<\/p>\n For others it\u2019s simply a time to enjoy the company of strangers.<\/p>\n \u201cIt brings people together. Strangers who don\u2019t know each other but we\u2019re all here for one goal,\u201d Tara Douhan said. \u201cNo matter who you\u2019re cheering for it\u2019s so much fun to see a team score a good game, a good fight for the win. It\u2019s just awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n The World Cup continues in Los Angeles as the U.S. opens their campaign against Paraguay<\/a> at 6 p.m.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n