The 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first 48-team edition of global football’s flagship tournament, officially launched on Thursday at Mexico City’s iconic Azteca Stadium, marking four decades since the nation last hosted the competition’s opening match. Against a backdrop of months of preparation challenges—from large-scale infrastructure renovations at the city’s airport and the historic Azteca venue, to widespread public protests and ongoing concerns about regional cartel violence—football fans and organizers set aside pre-tournament tensions to celebrate the start of the month-long competition.
Thousands of cheering supporters packed into the 100-year-old stadium, many decked head-to-toe in Mexico’s signature green, white and red team colors, brimming with anticipation for the first match of the tournament between co-host Mexico and South Africa. For first-time World Cup attendee Javier Pérez, who traveled to the capital with his entire family to secure coveted hospitality tickets, the energy inside the stadium overshadowed every logistical headache and pre-event worry that marked the months leading up to kickoff.
“It’s a unique experience. I have never been to a World Cup before so to bring my family is wonderful,” Pérez told reporters ahead of the ceremony. “I just want Mexico to get off on the right foot, win today and score a load of goals! And then we’ll see how far we can go!”
The opening celebration drew a lineup of global music superstars that blended Latin culture with global hitmakers, headlined by Colombian global icon Shakira. She was joined on the Azteca stage by fellow Colombian star J Balvin, Nigerian Afrobeats pioneer Burna Boy, Venezuelan Latin hitmaker Danny Ocean, and iconic Mexican rock frontman Fher Olvera. In a nod to the opening match’s teams, Mexican singer Alejandro Fernández—son of legendary Mexican crooner Vicente Fernández—delivered a stirring performance of Mexico’s national anthem, while Grammy-winning South African breakout star Tyla performed her country’s anthem before taking the field.
Tyla, who already holds a World Cup credit for her 2026 official tournament track “Game Time,” will reprise her performance role on Friday for the U.S. opening ceremony in Los Angeles, where she will share the stage with pop star Katy Perry, rapper Future, Blackpink’s Lisa, and Brazilian pop icon Anitta. Canada will also hold its own opening celebration Friday for matches hosted on its territory, as the 2026 tournament is split across the three North American co-hosts.
The Azteca ceremony leaned heavily into Mexico’s rich indigenous heritage, with dozens of performers wearing traditional handcrafted indigenous garments, while other dance troupes wore all-gold regalia and carried oversized golden footballs across the pitch. When the 90-minute celebration drew to a close and the opening match kicked off, thousands of elated fans tossed their traditional Mexican sombreros into the air, embracing the once-in-a-generation moment of hosting world football’s biggest event on home soil after 40 years of waiting.