Football’s biggest event returns with a historic edition that will redefine the World Cup. For the first time, 48 teams will compete for the trophy, while three nations — the United States, Canada and Mexico — share hosting duties across 16 cities.
The festivities begin in Mexico City, where a spectacular opening ceremony is expected to showcase the culture, music and footballing passion of the host nation. Fans will also be eagerly awaiting performances from international music stars Shakira and Burna Boy, who are set to perform the official FIFA World Cup 2026 anthem.
The opening ceremony marks the start of a month-long football festival that will feature 104 matches and countless storylines. From Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo potentially appearing in their final World Cup to the emergence of new global stars, the tournament promises unforgettable moments.
Once the celebrations conclude, attention will shift to the pitch as Mexico face South Africa in a remarkable repeat of the 2010 World Cup opener. Back then, the sides played out a memorable 1-1 draw in Johannesburg. Sixteen years later, they meet again on the opening night of another World Cup.
Mexico will be looking to make the most of home advantage and begin their campaign with a victory, while South Africa will hope to spoil the party and make an early statement.
Throughout the evening, we will bring you every major development from inside the stadium, including ceremony highlights, celebrity appearances, fan reactions, team news, warm-ups, tactical insights and live updates from the opening match.
Stay tuned as football’s grandest stage comes alive and the journey toward crowning the FIFA World Cup 2026 champion officially begins.
