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World Cup opens in Mexico
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off on Thursday evening with co-hosts Mexico taking on South Africa in the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, launching a tournament of 48 teams that will last nearly six weeks.
The official opening ceremony lit up the Estadio Azteca before kickoff with Colombian superstar Shakira and Nigerian singer Burna Boy performing "Dai Dai," the official song of the tournament.
Euronews said the extravaganza hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada is the biggest World Cup in history, stretching until the final in New Jersey on 19 July.
South Africa coach Hugo Broos warned his players to block out a wall of sound during the opening match, saying, "They will have 85,000 Mexicans shouting and singing."
Ceremony stars and crowds
Billboard said the opening ceremony on Thursday (June 11) at Mexico City’s stadium (Estadio Azteca) was headlined by Shakira and Burna Boy with their World Cup anthem, “Dai Dai,” and that the spectacle was witnessed by more than 80,000 people inside the venue.
Le Monde reported that Shakira and Burna Boy performed "Dai Dai" during the ceremony at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on Thursday, June 11, ahead of the opening match between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa.
Le Monde also described chaotic scenes in the center of Mexico City where thousands of fans pushed and shoved as they attempted to enter the official World Cup fan zone shortly before the 1800 GMT kickoff.
In the same account, a city official shouted through a megaphone, "Stop pushing and shoving, there are children here, you're like animals!"
Three ceremonies, next matches
Multiple outlets framed the tournament as featuring three opening ceremonies across the co-host countries, with the Mexico show on Thursday and additional ceremonies scheduled in Toronto and Los Angeles on Friday.
“- Published 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”
CBS News said the first match of the tournament is set to begin at 3 p.m. ET with Mexico taking on South Africa, and it noted that two more opening ceremonies are scheduled in Canada and the United States.
Fox Sports listed the Mexico opening ceremony date as Thursday, June 11, 2026, with the ceremony time set for 1:30 p.m. ET and the match as Mexico vs South Africa.
Fox Sports also said the United States opening ceremony will take place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood ahead of the United States' World Cup opener against Paraguay, with the lineup including Katy Perry, LISA, Rema, Anitta and Future.
