The 2026 Men's Football World Cup Officially Kicks Off in Mexico Today

The biggest tournament in international football officially begins today, June 11, 2026, marking the start of a historic 39 day event. This year, the tournament is being shared by three host nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The action starts at the famous Mexico City Stadium, where the host country, Mexico, faces South Africa in the first match of the competition.

This tournament is much larger than past World Cups. The number of competing teams has grown from 32 to 48, allowing more countries from around the world a chance to play on the global stage. A total of 104 matches will be played across 16 different cities before the tournament concludes with the final match on July 19, 2026, at the New York New Jersey Stadium.

Before the opening game, fans will experience a massive celebration of music and culture. High profile international music stars like Shakira, Burna Boy, and J Balvin are scheduled to perform at the stadium. Because this tournament is so large and spread across three countries, organizers are actually holding three separate opening celebrations. Following today's event in Mexico, Canada and the United States will hold their own official opening ceremonies tomorrow, June 12, right before their own national teams play their first matches.