Today is D-Day: FIFA World Cup 2026

The biggest FIFA World Cup in history gets underway today with an opening ceremony in Mexico City before the host nation takes the field in the first of 104 matches scheduled over the next 6 weeks.

Colombian pop star Shakira headlines the ceremony at Mexico City Stadium alongside Nigerian artist Burna Boy, with the two performing “Dai Dai”, the tournament’s official song. The ceremony begins at 11 am local time, with Mexico kicking off against South Africa at the same venue two hours later. A second Group A match follows in the evening, with South Korea facing Czechia at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Statistical projections based on 10,000 simulated matches give the hosts a 66% chance of victory, with South Africa roughly a 14% chance of pulling off an upset. South Africa coach Hugo Broos acknowledged the challenge, telling reporters his side is prepared to fight for every ball against what he called the group’s strongest team, while noting that playing in front of 85,000 home supporters gives Mexico a significant additional boost.

The Opening Day Has Not Been Without Controversy. 

Protests by teachers, transport workers, farmers, and families of missing persons have swept across Mexico City in the lead-up to the tournament, with demonstrators blocking roads near the Estadio Azteca and removing some World Cup installations. The groups are demanding better pay, pension reforms, and government action on longstanding social issues.

In a separate development, a Somali referee assigned to the tournament has been banned from entering the United States. According to AFP, a U.S. State Department official said he was denied entry due to alleged associations with suspected members of terrorist organisations.

The tournament is also the most expensive World Cup in history. FIFA introduced dynamic ticket pricing for the first time, meaning costs rise with demand, and with more than 500 million ticket requests submitted during the initial sales phase, some seats have reached extraordinary prices.

The high cost appears to be dampening attendance, with Reuters reporting that hotels may have to cut rates after the expected waves of visiting fans failed to materialise, and flight bookings running below projections.