June 12, 2026
World Cup opens in Mexico City as Fifa defends prices and visa issues
The 2026 Fifa World Cup has opened in Mexico City with Mexico playing South Africa, as organisers defended ticket prices and visa-related controversy. The expanded event runs until July 19 across three host countries.
June 12, 2026
MEXICO CITY: The Fifa World Cup 2026 begins on Thursday with co-hosts Mexico facing South Africa at the Estadio Azteca, opening a 48-team tournament that will run for nearly six weeks.
Staged across the United States, Mexico and Canada, the competition is the largest World Cup yet and will conclude with the final in New Jersey on July 19. It is expected to bring in a record $13 billion in overall revenue.
The opening ceremony at the Estadio Azteca featured Colombian singer Shakira and Nigerian artist Burna Boy, who performed Dai Dai, the tournament's official song, before the first match.
The start of the competition comes after criticism directed at Fifa over the high cost of tickets. The build-up has also been affected by immigration-related issues in the United States, including the refusal of entry to a leading referee, Iranian team officials and some fans.
Infantino defends tournament arrangements
Speaking in Mexico City on Wednesday, Fifa president Gianni Infantino rejected criticism over ticket pricing and visa-related problems. He said some tickets had cost more than $30,000, but pointed to a limited number of $60 tickets made available after complaints.
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