The largest FIFA World Cup in history got underway Thursday at Mexico City’s iconic Estadio Azteca, with co-host nation Mexico grabbing an early lead against South Africa in the tournament’s opening match in front of a packed crowd of 80,000 spectators. Striker Julian Quinones netted the first goal of the expanded 48-team event in just the ninth minute, capping an early spell of Mexican dominance on a pitch that previously hosted the final matches of the 1970 and 1986 World Cups.
This edition of the world’s biggest sporting event makes history as the first co-hosted by three North American nations: the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Stretching across nearly six weeks of competition, the tournament will conclude with the final match on July 19 in New Jersey, with industry projections forecasting total revenue will hit a staggering record $13 billion by the end of the event.
Before the first kickoff, the official opening ceremony entertained fans packed into the legendary Azteca stadium, with global music superstars Shakira, a Colombian icon, and Nigerian hitmaker Burna Boy taking the stage to perform the tournament’s official anthem “Dai Dai” to the delight of the crowd. However, the celebratory mood outside the stadium was marred by chaotic scuffles, as crowds of supporters pushed and shoved while attempting to access the official central fan zone in Mexico City.
The opening of on-pitch action comes as a much-needed reset for FIFA, the global governing body of football, which has faced intense backlash in the lead-up to the tournament over a number of controversies. Most prominent has been sharp criticism of the exorbitant ticket pricing, with some premium packages topping $30,000. Additional controversy has erupted over entry restrictions tied to U.S. President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies, which have already resulted in a high-profile referee, Iranian team officials, and multiple fans being denied entry to the United States for the tournament.
Appearing in Mexico City one day before the opening match, FIFA President Gianni Infantino delivered a passionate defense of the tournament’s organization and pushed back against growing criticism of both visa issues and ticket costs. Addressing the ticket pricing controversy, Infantino noted that the governing body had introduced a limited number of $60 entry-level tickets in response to public outcry, arguing that this base price and the tournament’s average ticket cost (which he said sits below $500) are lower than comparable entry prices for playoff rounds of major American sports leagues.
Infantino also sought to downplay the controversy surrounding Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the U.S. after landing in Miami. U.S. authorities claim Artan has ties to suspected terrorist organization members, and FIFA has already confirmed he will not participate in any matches during the tournament. Calling the outcome “unfortunate,” Infantino said FIFA does not control all border entry decisions, adding that the organization had done all it could to resolve the situation ahead of the tournament.
In a surprising show of solidarity just one day after Artan’s entry denial, European football’s governing body UEFA announced it would retain Artan as the referee for its 2025 European Super Cup match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, scheduled for August. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin emphasized that the decision was an intentional show of respect for Artan and his proven officiating skills, which earned him the prestigious nomination, noting that “football is made to connect people.”
Infantino also defended FIFA’s handling of Iran’s participation in the tournament, amid ongoing military tensions between the U.S. and Iran that led many to question whether the Iranian national team would be allowed to compete. Infantino framed Iran’s presence at the event as a major success for FIFA, noting that while geopolitical challenges made participation complicated, no other organization could have secured Iran’s place at the tournament in such circumstances.
The FIFA chief also faced questions over his widely publicized close relationship with Trump, but he did not shy away from praising the U.S. president’s role in bringing the tournament to North America. Infantino stated bluntly that without Trump’s engagement and direct involvement, organizing a World Cup on U.S. soil would have been simply impossible. Trump confirmed Wednesday that he plans to attend multiple World Cup matches during the tournament, though he declined to share specific details about which games he will attend.
The second match of the tournament’s opening day is scheduled for later Thursday in Guadalajara, where South Korea will face off against the Czech Republic. Heading into the tournament, pre-game odds list Spain, France, and England as the top overall favorites to lift the trophy, while defending champions Argentina are led by 38-year-old legend Lionel Messi, who will look to guide his side to back-to-back World Cup titles.