The 2026 FIFA World Cup, the most expansive and groundbreaking edition in the tournament’s 96-year history, is set to get underway this week, marking a new chapter for global football. For the first time since the World Cup’s inception in 1930, three North American nations – the United States, Mexico and Canada – will co-host the event, after their unified “United As One” bid secured FIFA’s hosting approval back in 2018.
The opening match will kick off at 1 p.m. local time on Thursday, June 11 at Mexico City’s legendary Estadio Azteca, a venue steeped in World Cup history. The matchup will see Mexico face off against South Africa, a rematch of the two nations’ 2010 World Cup opening game held in Johannesburg, which ended in a 1-1 draw. An estimated sellout crowd of 80,000 fans is expected to pack the iconic stadium for the tournament’s opening clash.
A 90-minute opening ceremony will precede the first kickoff, headlined by global music superstars. Four-time Grammy Award winner Shakira will top the bill, joined by Colombian reggaeton icon J Balvin and breakout South African hitmaker Tyla, bringing a cross-continental celebration of culture to the opening of the tournament.
Expanded from the previous 32-team format, the 2026 World Cup features a record 48 competing nations and will host a total of 104 matches across the three host countries. That marks 40 more matches than the 2022 tournament held in Qatar, making this the largest World Cup ever staged. Beyond the on-pitch action, the event is projected to be the most lucrative sports competition in history: the World Trade Organization estimates the tournament will generate a combined $80.1 billion in gross output across the United States, Mexico and Canada. For football fans around the globe, this historic tournament delivers an unprecedented celebration of the world’s most popular sport.