The Start of the Biggest World Cup in History
On June 11, 2026, the FIFA World Cup kicked off at the legendary Estadio Azteca in Mexico City — the largest tournament in history by number of participants. The opening match of Group A between Mexico and South Africa launched a competition featuring 48 national teams for the very first time. Over 39 days, a record 104 matches will be played across 16 stadiums in three countries — the USA, Mexico and Canada.
Opening Ceremony: Shakira and Burna Boy
Before the opening match in Mexico City, a grand ceremony took place: Colombian superstar Shakira performed the official tournament song Dai Dai alongside Nigerian artist Burna Boy. This was the first of three opening ceremonies planned for the start of the tournament. The next will take place in Toronto, where Canadian star Michael Bublé will open the Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina match on June 12.
Group A: Mexico vs South Africa and South Korea vs Czech Republic
Group A features South Korea and the Czech Republic alongside Mexico and South Africa. The second group match — South Korea vs Czech Republic — is scheduled for June 12 (05:00 Kyiv time). Mexico, ranked 14th in the FIFA world rankings, is considered the group favourite and is one of the three host nations. This World Cup holds special significance for Mexico: the country becomes the first in history to host the tournament three times.
Upcoming Matchday Schedule
After the opening matches, the tournament quickly picks up pace. Here are the key fixtures in the coming days:
- June 12: Group B — Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (Toronto, 22:00 Kyiv time)
- June 13: Group D — USA vs Paraguay (04:00); Group B — Qatar vs Switzerland (22:00)
- June 14: Group C — Brazil vs Morocco (01:00); Group C — Haiti vs Scotland (04:00); Group D — Australia vs Turkey (07:00); Group E — Germany vs Curaçao (20:00); Group F — Netherlands vs Japan (23:00)
Tournament Format and the Road to the Knockout Stage
All 48 teams are divided into 12 groups of four. The top two teams from each group are guaranteed to advance to the knockout stage (Round of 32), along with the eight best third-placed sides. The final will take place on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey. The reigning champions are Argentina, who defeated France on penalties in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final in Qatar.
Controversies Surrounding the Tournament
Ahead of the tournament's start, FIFA found itself at the centre of a controversy over an updated stadium code of conduct that bans reusable water bottles. Previous rules had allowed empty transparent bottles of up to one litre. The issue has become particularly acute given the summer heat in the host cities. FIFA stated that it is working with host cities on heat protection measures — including hydration zones, misting stations and cooling tents near stadiums — but the ban on reusable bottles remains in place.
