2026 World Cup Kicks Off June 11 with Mexico vs. South Africa at Historic Estadio Azteca

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, is set to kick off on Thursday, June 11. The inaugural match will feature host nation Mexico against South Africa at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. This historic stadium will be the first to host matches in three different World Cups, having previously done so in 1970 and 1986.

The tournament promises to be the largest ever, expanding to include 48 teams and a total of 104 matches. Uniquely, the 2026 World Cup will also feature two additional opening ceremonies for the other host nations, the United States and Canada, preceding their respective team debuts. The United States, managed by Mauricio Pochettino, will play their first match on June 12 against Paraguay, while Canada will face Bosnia-Herzegovina on the same day.

The grand finale of the World Cup is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA. Historically, the criteria for the opening match have varied since the tournament's inception in 1930. While early editions saw multiple simultaneous opening games or featured the hosts, a tradition of the defending champion playing the first match was adopted from 1974. However, since 2006, the host nation has once again taken center stage in the opening fixture.

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These three mascots are an essential element of the festive atmosphere we are creating for this historic tournament and I am convinced they will win the affection of fans in North America and around the world.