Fifa World Cup kicks off with star-studded opening ceremony in Mexico City
The tournament, jointly hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada, features 48 teams and 104 matches across 16 cities.
The Fifa World Cup got underway tonight (11 June) with a spectacular opening ceremony at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, marking the start of the biggest World Cup in history.
The tournament, jointly hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada, features 48 teams and 104 matches across 16 cities.
Thousands of fans packed the historic stadium as global music stars Shakira, Burna Boy and Tyla headlined the opening celebrations.
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Colombian singer J Balvin also joined the festivities, while performers from the host nations showcased their cultures through music and dance.
Shakira, who has long been associated with Fifa World Cup events, generated excitement ahead of the ceremony by sharing behind-the-scenes footage from rehearsals, describing the preparations as a "non-stop rehearsal week."
The opening match saw hosts Mexico take on South Africa, a repeat of the opening fixture of the 2010 World Cup in Johannesburg.
The match also marked another milestone for Estadio Azteca, which became the first stadium in history to host World Cup matches in three different tournaments — 1970, 1986 and 2026.
Unlike previous editions, Fifa has introduced a new fan-focused pre-match ceremony format for every match of the tournament.
The initiative includes full-squad walkouts, enhanced stadium presentations and large-scale visual displays aimed at improving the spectator experience.
The tournament will run until 19 July, when the final will be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
For the first time in world cup history, the final is also expected to feature a super bowl-style halftime show.
