The 2026 FIFA World Cup has begun in Mexico City, kicking off the first-ever 48-team tournament co-hosted by three nations. The opening ceremony featured a performance by Shakira and Burna Boy before co-host Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0. The event was met with protests outside the stadium over government corruption, while FIFA faced criticism for high ticket prices.
2026 World Cup opening ceremony
- ▪The ceremony took place at Estadio Azteca, which has now hosted the World Cup opening match three times
- ▪The 2026 FIFA World Cup began on June 11, 2026, with an opening ceremony in Mexico City
- ▪FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the prices, stating that a small number of $60 tickets were made available
- ▪FIFA has faced criticism over high ticket prices for the tournament, with some costing over $30,000
Shakira Burna Boy performance
- ▪Colombian singer Shakira and Nigerian singer Burna Boy headlined the opening ceremony
- ▪Shakira and Burna Boy performed "Dai Dai," the official song of the 2026 World Cup
Mexico versus South Africa match
- ▪Mexico won the opening match against South Africa with a score of 2-0
- ▪The opening match featured co-hosts Mexico playing against South Africa
- ▪Julián Quiñones scored the first goal for Mexico in the ninth minute, followed by a second-half goal from Raúl Jiménez
Mexico City government protests
- ▪Protesters included families of "disappeared people" and teachers, highlighting government corruption and the cost of the event
- ▪Mexican officials reported that nearly 200 hooded individuals broke away from larger groups and clashed with law enforcement
- ▪Protests occurred outside the Estadio Azteca before the opening ceremony
Tournament host cities
- ▪Matches will be played in 16 cities across the three host countries, with separate opening ceremonies in Toronto and Los Angeles
- ▪The 2026 World Cup is the first to be co-hosted by three nations: the U.S., Mexico, and Canada
48-team tournament format
- ▪The 2026 World Cup is the first to feature an expanded format of 48 national teams
- ▪The expanded tournament is projected to generate a record-breaking $13 billion in total revenue
- ▪The previous 32-team tournament format had been in place since 1998
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