Siphiwe Tshabalala opened the score for South Africa in the 56th minute but Rafael Marquez netted the equalizer in the 79th minute to seal the final 1-1.

In the other game of the opening day, also in Pool A, a ten-man Uruguayan squad held World Cup 2006 runners-up France to a scoreless draw at the Green Point stadium in Cape Town.

Africa is hosting the FIFA World Cup for the first time. Thus far, only teams from Europe and Latin America have won the tournament with Brazil leading with five titles. The other world champions are Italy (4), Germany (3), Argentina (2), Uruguay (2), England (1) and France (1).

“The 2010 FIFA World Cup is much more than a game. It symbolizes the power of football, which can bring people together from all over, whatever their language, color, political beliefs or religious faith,” said South African leader Nelson Mandela in a statement sent to the 60th Congress of FIFA held on Wednesday.