World Cup commences in Mexico City with historic trilateral hosting and opening match victory

The 2026 FIFA World Cup commenced on Thursday, 11 June 2026, with an opening ceremony at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The event marked the beginning of the first tournament jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, featuring an expanded field of 48 teams. The ceremony was headlined by global music star Shakira, alongside performances by J Balvin, Burna Boy, Andrea Bocelli, and Tyla.

The opening match saw co-hosts Mexico defeat South Africa 2-0. Julian Quinones scored the tournament’s first goal in the ninth minute, and Raul Jimenez added a second in the 67th minute. South Africa finished the match with nine men after Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane were sent off, while Mexico’s Cesar Montes also received a red card.

The build-up to the tournament was complicated by infrastructure renovations, including work at the airport and Azteca stadium, as well as protests and concerns regarding cartel violence in Mexico. Despite these challenges, the atmosphere on the day was described as vibrant by attendees. Javier Pérez, a hospitality ticket holder, told the BBC that the excitement outweighed previous hassles.

Performers wore indigenous clothing, and the stadium was filled with fans in team colours. Andrea Bocelli and Ejae performed the official anthem 'DNA', while Alejandro Fernández sang the Mexican national anthem with 80,000 fans. Tyla performed South Africa’s anthem and is scheduled to perform at the US opening ceremony in Los Angeles on Friday alongside Katy Perry, Future, Lisa, and Anitta.

This is the first World Cup held in Mexico in 40 years. The tournament represents a significant shift in global football governance and logistics. Mexico, co-hosting with the US and Canada, celebrated its return to hosting the event after four decades, with the North American nations preparing for their own opening ceremonies on Friday.