Mexico and South Africa are about to play the opening match of the World Cup for the second time in history. 16 years apart. Exact same calendar date. Completely reversed host roles. In 2010, Mexico pulled up to Johannesburg to spoil South Africa's party. In 2026, South Africa is pulling up to the Estadio Azteca to return the favor. This is officially the most unique, historic opener we’ve ever seen. Football always finds a way to repeat itself.
That one of the great tragedies of life is the paradox of wisdom and age. As you become wiser about life and the world, you have less time to apply it yourselt. So you try to pass it down, but some things just can't be heard in youth. It only comes through the experience of living. And then the cycle repeats: you remember that someone tried to give you some gems and you didn't listen, so you try to do the same. It's a somewhat cruel time loop of sorts, and I ponder over the design sometimes.
“When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said "Let us pray." We closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land.” - Desmond Tutu