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Mexico opens, fans surge
The 2026 World Cup kicked off in Mexico City with an opening ceremony featuring Shakira and performances for thousands of fans arriving at the legendary Azteca stadium.
“The Fan Fest will open at 2 p”
The BBC said Mexico is co-hosting the tournament alongside the US and Canada, with North American teams hosting their own opening ceremonies on Friday.
In Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum came to life for the FIFA Fan Festival as thousands gathered to watch giant monitors showing Mexico vs. South Africa on opening day.
At the LA Coliseum, Ulises Hernandez said, "It’s cool to just be around people that are into the same things that you are," while the KTLA report said organizers expected as many as 40,000 fans to attend Thursday’s festivities.
As the match began at noon, fans at the LA Coliseum erupted after Mexico scored the first goal in the 2026 World Cup, with chants breaking out: "Mexico! Mexico! Mexico!"
Festivals, protests, and plans
In Mexico City, ESPN reported that the official FIFA fan fest for the opening ceremony and first game could be forced to relocate over protests from the country's teachers' union, with Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum due to attend but choosing to give away her ticket.
ESPN said thousands of members of the CNTE gathered at the Zócalo to protest until the government listens to their demands, and the government estimated a capacity of 6,000 members of the CNTE to concentrate in the Zócalo.
Sheinbaum told reporters, "Well, let's see how things develop with the teachers and some other groups, because I obviously need to keep a close eye on that," and later insisted there are 18 other venues planned in advance.
In Philadelphia, 6abc Philadelphia said the city’s FIFA Fan Festival opens Thursday afternoon at Lemon Hill in Fairmount Park, with the Fan Fest opening at 2 p.m. ahead of the first World Cup match at 3 p.m. in Mexico City.
The Philadelphia event is free to attend but requires registration, and 6abc Philadelphia said only 15,000 people are allowed into the event space at a time.
Who’s watching, what’s at stake
Across Southern California, KTLA said the opening match reunites Mexico and South Africa in a World Cup opener for the first time since 2010, and it set the noon showdown at Mexico City Stadium as the start of the largest World Cup in history.
“World Cup kicks off in Mexico with Shakira, performers and vibrant fans The 2026 World Cup has begun in Mexico City with an opening ceremony filled with colour, culture and a performance by global music star Shakira”
KTLA also said Los Angeles will take on an even larger role Friday when the United States opens its World Cup campaign against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, one of the tournament’s 16 host venues.
In Mexico City, the BBC described the tournament’s official anthem DNA being performed by Tyla and released on Wednesday, with Tyla set to return to the World Cup stage on Friday to take part in the US opening ceremony in Los Angeles alongside Katy Perry, Future, Lisa and Anitta.
In Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Daily News said the LA Coliseum’s field was open for fans to gather in front of a stage that saw a mariachi performance from Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles, and it said East L.A. rock group Los Lobos performed to a packed field.
For Philadelphia, 6abc Philadelphia framed the Fan Fest as a way to keep the World Cup experience free and accessible over the 39 days, with Meg Kane saying, "We wanted people to come and come again," as the city hosts its first World Cup match on Sunday.
