The FIFA World Cup 2026 began with a celebration of music, culture and football at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, where Mexico delighted home fans with a 2-0 victory over South Africa in the tournament opener.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 officially got underway in Mexico City on Friday with a vibrant opening ceremony featuring global music stars, cultural performances, and a celebratory atmosphere that highlighted Mexico’s rich heritage before the host nation secured a 2-0 victory over South Africa in the tournament’s opening match.
Thousands of fans converged on the iconic Estadio Azteca, creating a festive atmosphere around the stadium hours before kickoff. Roads surrounding the venue were closed for several kilometres, forcing supporters to walk long distances while passing mariachi bands, dancers, and performers in traditional costumes.
The opening ceremony showcased a blend of international and Mexican talent. Colombian superstar Shakira and Nigerian singer Burna Boy headlined the event, while performances also featured Colombian artist J Balvin, Venezuelan singer Danny Ocean, and Mexican musician Fher Olvera of the band Maná.
“Bienvenida a México. Welcome to Mexico,” a performer declared as the ceremony began. “We are a nation of diversity, heritage and pride. Football carries the same heartbeat, uniting generations.”
Performers dressed in indigenous attire shared the stage with dancers carrying giant golden footballs, while a packed stadium of more than 80,000 spectators provided a colourful backdrop. Opera tenor Andrea Bocelli and K-pop singer Ejae performed the tournament’s official anthem, DNA, while Mexican singer Alejandro Fernández led fans in singing the national anthem. South African Grammy-winning artist Tyla performed her country’s anthem ahead of kickoff.
The opening celebration marked the beginning of the first World Cup jointly hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada, and the first World Cup staged in North America since 1994.
On the pitch, Mexico delivered a commanding performance against South Africa. Julián Quiñones opened the scoring in the ninth minute with a strike from the edge of the penalty area, giving the home crowd an early reason to celebrate.
Veteran striker Raúl Jiménez doubled Mexico’s advantage in the 67th minute, heading home his first World Cup goal after appearing in four editions of the tournament.
South Africa struggled to mount a challenge and finished the match with nine players after Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane were shown red cards. Mexico’s César Montes was also sent off late in the game, resulting in three red cards in the tournament’s opening match.
The match carried additional historical significance for Estadio Azteca, which became the first stadium in football history to host matches at three separate FIFA World Cups.
While football remained the focus of the day, authorities reported isolated clashes between police and protesters outside the stadium. Mexican officials said approximately 200 hooded individuals broke away from larger protest groups and confronted security forces before the situation was brought under control.
The 2026 World Cup is the largest in the tournament’s history, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches across more than five weeks. Following the opening fixture, attention now turns to the next matches as teams begin their quest for football’s biggest prize.
