Mexico City, 10 June 2026

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on Thursday, June 11, marking a historic first as the tournament is jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada and expanded to 48 teams. The opening match will see Mexico face South Africa at Mexico City Stadium, while the final will be played on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

A record 104 matches will be staged across 16 venues in three countries, with the United States hosting 78 games. The tournament also features a record 1,248 players, including 891 World Cup debutants. Scotland’s Craig Gordon, 43, is the oldest player in the competition, while Mexico’s Gilberto Mora, 17, is the youngest.

The expanded format has created new opportunities, with Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan making their World Cup debuts. Africa will be represented by a record 10 nations, including Senegal, Morocco, Egypt, Ghana and South Africa, while eight Arab countries have qualified for the first time: Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia.

Mexico City Stadium will make history by hosting a World Cup opening match for the third time, having previously staged the opening games in 1970 and 1986. The iconic venue is also remembered for Pelé lifting the trophy in 1970 and Diego Maradona’s legendary performances in 1986.

The tournament has generated discussion beyond the pitch. Iran’s participation remains under scrutiny amid tensions with the United States after FIFA rejected requests to relocate its group matches from US venues. Fans have also raised concerns about high ticket prices, accommodation costs and extensive travel distances between host cities.

Meanwhile, the Senegal Football Federation clarified a viral video showing members of its national team undergoing security checks before arriving in the US. The federation said the screening took place during boarding at Raleigh airport in North Carolina before a private flight to San Antonio, Texas, and stressed that all procedures were routine and conducted in accordance with airport regulations.

Another controversy involved Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the United States despite being selected to officiate at the World Cup. Artan, recently named Africa’s Best Referee for 2025, was set to become the first Somali referee to work at a FIFA World Cup.

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed support for Artan, describing his achievement as a historic milestone that remains significant regardless of the setback. He praised Artan for inspiring young Somalis and voiced confidence that he would officiate at future major international tournaments.

Upon returning to Mogadishu, Artan received a hero’s welcome from government officials and football authorities. He thanked FIFA and the Somali people for their support and vowed to officiate at a future World Cup. His exclusion followed a US proclamation suspending the entry of Somali nationals, a move that sparked international criticism and calls from some fans for a World Cup boycott.

As the tournament begins, the focus now shifts to the action on the field, where football’s biggest stage promises six weeks of competition, history and global attention.