A Chaotic Start: Mexico 2-0 South Africa

The game was far from a straightforward victory. Referee Wilton Sampaio issued three red cards, making it the first opening match in World Cup history to see three players sent off, and the first in which one team had two players dismissed . South Africa's Sphephelo Sithole and Mexico's César Montes were both sent off for denying obvious goalscoring opportunities, before South African substitute Themba Zwane received a straight red for striking Mexican forward Roberto Alvarado in the face .

Julian Quinones put Mexico ahead in the first half, with Raul Jimenez adding a second to ensure the co-hosts ended their long-standing winless streak in World Cup openers in dominant fashion . The Estadio Azteca made history during the match, becoming the first stadium to host a World Cup opening game on three separate occasions .

The Opening Ceremony: Shakira Debuts the Official Anthem

Ninety minutes before kickoff, a massive opening ceremony celebrated Mexican culture and officially launched the tournament . The event was centered around the theme of papel picado, the traditional Mexican folk art of perforated paper, and featured a colossal World Cup trophy .

Shakira and Nigerian artist Burna Boy headlined the ceremony, debuting the official 2026 FIFA World Cup song, "Dai Dai," live for the first time . The title comes from an Italian phrase meaning "let's go" or "come on" . They were joined by a powerhouse line-up of international and Latin music stars, including J Balvin, Belinda, Maná, Alejandro Fernández, Danny Ocean, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules, and Tyla . Actress Salma Hayek Pinault also appeared as a FIFA Ambassador .

The Largest World Cup in History

The 2026 tournament is a watershed moment for FIFA. For the first time, the World Cup is hosted by three countries—the United States, Mexico, and Canada . It is also the first edition to feature an expanded field of 48 teams, up from the 32-team format used since 1998 . This expansion has led to a record 104 total matches, including 72 in the group stage and 24 in the knockout rounds .

Here's a breakdown of the tournament's unprecedented scale:

• 104 matches total
• 48 teams competing
• 16 host cities: 11 in the U.S., 3 in Mexico, and 2 in Canada
• 39-day tournament: Runs from June 11 to July 19, with the final scheduled at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey

The United States will host the bulk of the action with 78 games, while Canada and Mexico will host 13 matches each .

How to Watch the 2026 World Cup

In the United States:
All 104 matches are being broadcast in English on FOX (70 matches) and FS1 (34 matches), with Spanish-language coverage on Telemundo and Peacock . Fans without cable can stream the games live through multiple services:

• Fubo, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and Sling TV all carry FOX and FS1 .
• Fox One is a dedicated streaming service offering every match live for $19.99/month .
• Peacock offers Spanish-language streams of all 104 matches for a lower monthly cost .
• Free trials are available on eligible services for new subscribers .
• As part of a broadcast deal with FIFA, YouTube is streaming the first 10 minutes of every match for free .

Internationally:
Several countries are offering free-to-air coverage for every match:

• UK: BBC and ITV
• Australia: SBS On Demand
• Brazil: CazéTV's YouTube channel
• Belgium: RTBF / VRT
• Ireland: RTE Player
• Netherlands: NOS
• Switzerland: SRF, RTS, and RSI Play

Three Interconnected Opening Ceremonies

The celebration extends beyond Mexico City, with three distinct opening ceremonies designed to highlight the unique cultural identities of each host nation .

Toronto — June 12 at BMO Field:
The Canadian ceremony is headlined by Michael Bublé and Alanis Morissette, alongside fellow Canadian star Alessia Cara. Other performers include Elyanna, Nora Fatehi, William Prince, Jessie Reyez, Sanjoy, and Vegedream . The event will showcase a "cultural mosaic" theme, celebrating the nation's identity .

Los Angeles — June 12 at SoFi Stadium:
Closing out the three-nation opening weekend, the U.S. ceremony is headlined by Katy Perry. The blockbuster lineup also features Future, Brazilian superstar Anitta, LISA of BLACKPINK, Rema, and Tyla . The theme for the Los Angeles event has been described as "a super shiny, glowing cup," representing American spectacle .

A Chaotic Start: Mexico 2-0 South Africa

The game was far from a straightforward victory. Referee Wilton Sampaio issued three red cards, making it the first opening match in World Cup history to see three players sent off, and the first in which one team had two players dismissed . South Africa's Sphephelo Sithole and Mexico's César Montes were both sent off for denying obvious goalscoring opportunities, before South African substitute Themba Zwane received a straight red for striking Mexican forward Roberto Alvarado in the face .

Julian Quinones put Mexico ahead in the first half, with Raul Jimenez adding a second to ensure the co-hosts ended their long-standing winless streak in World Cup openers in dominant fashion . The Estadio Azteca made history during the match, becoming the first stadium to host a World Cup opening game on three separate occasions .

The Opening Ceremony: Shakira Debuts the Official Anthem

Ninety minutes before kickoff, a massive opening ceremony celebrated Mexican culture and officially launched the tournament . The event was centered around the theme of papel picado, the traditional Mexican folk art of perforated paper, and featured a colossal World Cup trophy .

Shakira and Nigerian artist Burna Boy headlined the ceremony, debuting the official 2026 FIFA World Cup song, "Dai Dai," live for the first time . The title comes from an Italian phrase meaning "let's go" or "come on" . They were joined by a powerhouse line-up of international and Latin music stars, including J Balvin, Belinda, Maná, Alejandro Fernández, Danny Ocean, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules, and Tyla . Actress Salma Hayek Pinault also appeared as a FIFA Ambassador .

The Largest World Cup in History

The 2026 tournament is a watershed moment for FIFA. For the first time, the World Cup is hosted by three countries—the United States, Mexico, and Canada . It is also the first edition to feature an expanded field of 48 teams, up from the 32-team format used since 1998 . This expansion has led to a record 104 total matches, including 72 in the group stage and 24 in the knockout rounds .

Here's a breakdown of the tournament's unprecedented scale:

• 104 matches total
• 48 teams competing
• 16 host cities: 11 in the U.S., 3 in Mexico, and 2 in Canada
• 39-day tournament: Runs from June 11 to July 19, with the final scheduled at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey

The United States will host the bulk of the action with 78 games, while Canada and Mexico will host 13 matches each .

How to Watch the 2026 World Cup

In the United States:
All 104 matches are being broadcast in English on FOX (70 matches) and FS1 (34 matches), with Spanish-language coverage on Telemundo and Peacock . Fans without cable can stream the games live through multiple services:

• Fubo, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and Sling TV all carry FOX and FS1 .
• Fox One is a dedicated streaming service offering every match live for $19.99/month .
• Peacock offers Spanish-language streams of all 104 matches for a lower monthly cost .
• Free trials are available on eligible services for new subscribers .
• As part of a broadcast deal with FIFA, YouTube is streaming the first 10 minutes of every match for free .

Internationally:
Several countries are offering free-to-air coverage for every match:

• UK: BBC and ITV
• Australia: SBS On Demand
• Brazil: CazéTV's YouTube channel
• Belgium: RTBF / VRT
• Ireland: RTE Player
• Netherlands: NOS
• Switzerland: SRF, RTS, and RSI Play

Three Interconnected Opening Ceremonies

The celebration extends beyond Mexico City, with three distinct opening ceremonies designed to highlight the unique cultural identities of each host nation .

Toronto — June 12 at BMO Field:
The Canadian ceremony is headlined by Michael Bublé and Alanis Morissette, alongside fellow Canadian star Alessia Cara. Other performers include Elyanna, Nora Fatehi, William Prince, Jessie Reyez, Sanjoy, and Vegedream . The event will showcase a "cultural mosaic" theme, celebrating the nation's identity .

Los Angeles — June 12 at SoFi Stadium:
Closing out the three-nation opening weekend, the U.S. ceremony is headlined by Katy Perry. The blockbuster lineup also features Future, Brazilian superstar Anitta, LISA of BLACKPINK, Rema, and Tyla . The theme for the Los Angeles event has been described as "a super shiny, glowing cup," representing American spectacle .