The 2026 FIFA World Cup got underway on Thursday with co-hosts Mexico taking an early lead against South Africa in front of a capacity crowd of 80,000 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Julian Quiñones opened the scoring in the ninth minute of the tournament’s opening match, giving Mexico early control at the iconic venue, which previously hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals.
This year’s tournament, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, is the largest in World Cup history and will run until the final in New Jersey on July 19. It is projected to generate a record $13 billion in revenue.
The opening ceremony lit up the Estadio Azteca before kickoff, featuring performances from Nigerian superstar Burna Boy and Colombian singer Shakira, who thrilled fans with the tournament’s official song, “Dai Dai.”
However, the celebrations were marred by crowd tensions outside the stadium, where scuffles broke out as supporters struggled to access the fan zone in central Mexico City.
The tournament’s kickoff comes amid scrutiny of FIFA over soaring ticket prices, with some packages reportedly exceeding $30,000, as well as concerns over travel restrictions linked to political tensions.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the organisation of the tournament, insisting that pricing remained within reasonable limits and pointing to a limited number of $60 tickets introduced to improve accessibility.
“Our entry price, which is $60, is the lowest entry price of any of the American sports in the play-off phases,” Infantino said, adding that the average ticket price was “below $500.”
He also addressed the controversy surrounding Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry into the United States after arriving in Miami. FIFA confirmed that Artan would not officiate at the tournament.
Infantino described the situation as “unfortunate,” noting that FIFA does not control all visa-related decisions.
In a separate development, European football governing body UEFA announced that Artan would instead referee the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in August, in what it described as a show of support for his officiating credentials.
The FIFA president also highlighted Iran’s participation in the tournament despite geopolitical tensions, describing it as a significant achievement for global football unity.
Meanwhile, Infantino acknowledged the role of US President Donald Trump in supporting the tournament’s organisation, stating that his involvement was crucial to its successful hosting in the United States.
South Korea and the Czech Republic are set to meet in the second opening-day fixture in Guadalajara.
Pre-tournament favourites include Spain, France, and England, while reigning champions Argentina will rely on veteran captain Lionel Messi as they aim to defend their title.
