Estadio Azteca roars today …as 2026 World Cup kicks off

The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially begins today, igniting a new four-year cycle of global football competition. Hosted jointly by Mexico, Canada, and the United States, the tournament commences with an opening ceremony in Mexico City's Estadio Azteca, four years after Argentina's victory in Qatar.

This 23rd edition is the largest in the World Cup's history, expanding to include 48 teams and a total of 104 matches. The new format features a group stage with 12 groups of four teams, followed by a Round of 32 knockout stage. This expansion has led to a challenging qualification process, with traditional powerhouses like Italy and Nigeria failing to secure spots, while newcomers such as Curacao and Panama will make their debut.

Matches will be distributed across 11 venues: three in Mexico, two in Canada, and seven in the United States. Mexico will host 13 games, including the opener and three knockout-stage matches. Canada will also host 13 games, starting with a match between Canada and Bosnia-Herzegovina, and including three knockout-stage fixtures. The United States will stage the remaining 78 matches, encompassing all quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

A record 1,248 players from 42 countries will participate, representing 449 clubs worldwide. Of these, 357 players have previous World Cup experience, while 891 are first-time participants. Spain, Brazil, Argentina, and France are considered strong contenders for the title, with Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Portugal seen as having outside chances.