One Day to Go: WC-2026 Opens in Mexico City
Tomorrow, June 11, the largest World Cup in football history kicks off at the legendary Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The host nation — Mexico — will face South Africa in the Group A opening match. This is a symbolic repeat of the fixture that launched the 2010 World Cup in Johannesburg. The tournament will span 104 matches over 39 days across 16 cities in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, with the final taking place on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Scandal Involving a Somali Referee
The biggest off-pitch story on the eve of the tournament centered on Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed that the official arrived at Miami Airport from Istanbul on June 6 and, following additional screening, was deemed "inadmissible due to vetting issues" and denied entry. FIFA confirmed the referee's identity and stated that Artan "will not be able to train or officiate at WC-2026 matches." The organization stressed that it plays no role in the immigration processes of host countries. Artan himself said in a statement that despite the circumstances he remains "in a positive mindset" and is focused on his future career. This would have been a historic appearance: Artan was set to become the first Somali referee at a men's World Cup final. In 2025, he was named the best male referee by the Confederation of African Football.
Visa Incidents Not Limited to One Case
The situation with Artan is not an isolated one. Iran's national team faced difficulties entering the United States amid US-Iran tensions: the squad set up its base camp in Mexico and plans to fly to the US only on match days. In addition, two members of Iraq's delegation — player Aimen Hussein and the team photographer — were detained at O'Hare Airport in Chicago.
Injuries: Favorites Lose Key Players
On the eve of the tournament, several leading national teams suffered significant personnel losses:
- Netherlands officially announced the withdrawal of defender Jurrien Timber due to a groin tear. The player left the training camp after a friendly match against Uzbekistan (a 2–1 win). He will be replaced by Lutsharel Geertruida. The Dutch had already previously lost Xavi Simons (ACL tear) and Matthijs de Ligt (back surgery).
- Spain is monitoring the fitness of striker Mikel Oyarzabal, who was substituted at half-time in a friendly after an awkward landing. The player has been sent for further medical examinations.
- Brazil heads into the tournament without Rodrígo (ACL tear) and Éder Militão (hip surgery). Neymar's participation in the opening match against Morocco on June 13 is in doubt — he has a grade-two calf muscle injury.
- Spain also lost Fermín López (metatarsal fracture), while Germany are without Serge Gnabry (adductor muscle injury).
Schedule of the First Group Stage Matches
Following the opening match Mexico vs. South Africa (22:00 Kyiv time), South Korea and Czech Republic will play in Guadalajara the same evening (Group A). On June 12, Canada (vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto) and the USA (vs. Paraguay at SoFi Stadium) take the field. The reigning world champions — Argentina — make their debut on June 17 against Algeria. Brazil and Morocco meet on June 13 in one of the most anticipated group stage clashes.
Format and Scale of the Tournament
WC-2026 is the first World Cup to feature 48 national teams, divided into 12 groups of four. The top two teams from each group advance to the Round of 32, along with the eight best third-placed sides. The knockout stage from the quarterfinals onward will be held entirely in the United States, which hosts 78 of the 104 matches.
