The 2026 Football World Cup will begin this Thursday (11) with the traditional opening ceremony and the inaugural game. The first clash will be between Mexico and South Africa, held at the Azteca Stadium, located in Mexico City, repeating the match that kicked off the 2010 World Cup.
Innovating in the history of the World Cup, the International Federation of Association Football (Fifa) prepared three distinct celebrations for the opening, one in each host nation: Mexico, the United States and Canada. The ceremonies will be linked by a theme that harmonizes sport, musical expression and the cultural richness of each location. Below are details about the broadcast dates and channels.
Opening ceremony in Mexico takes place on Thursday (11)
Starting at 12:30 pm (Mexico City local time, which is Central Daylight Time – CDT) this Thursday (11), artists Shakira and Burna Boy will perform on the stage set up at the Azteca Stadium. They will perform “Dai Dai”, the official song that sets the stage for the competition.
The show will also include the participation of Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean and J Balvin. Then, at 2pm (CDT), the ball starts rolling for the opening match. Later, at 9 pm (CDT), there will be a clash between South Korea and the Czech Republic, in Guadalajara. The Azteca Stadium will reach a historic milestone by being the first venue to host the opening of three editions of the World Cup.
Where to watch the opening in Mexico (Mexico City):
- Thursday (11), Azteca Stadium: 12:30 pm (local time) – Opening ceremony | 2pm (local time) – Mexico x South Africa
- Broadcast: Globo, Globoplay, sportv, geTV, CazéTV, SBT and N Sports
Canada and the United States host opening celebrations on Friday
Canada and the United States will also have their opening festivities, scheduled for Friday (12). Check the details of each event.
Celebration in Canada
On Friday (12), starting at 1:30 pm (Toronto local time, Eastern Daylight Time – EDT), the city of Toronto, Canada, will host its opening party. Among the names confirmed for the show are Alanis Morissette, Michael Bublé, Alessia Cara, Elyanna, Jessie Reyez, Nora Fatehi, Sanjoy, Vegedream and William Prince. Shortly after the ceremony, at 3pm (EDT), the Canadian team will make its debut against Bosnia.
Opening in Canada (Toronto):
- Friday (12), BMO Field: 1:30 pm (local time) – Opening ceremony | 3pm (local time) – Canada x Bosnia
- Broadcast: CazéTV
Event in the United States
The last opening show is scheduled for Friday night (12) in Los Angeles, in the United States. The ceremony, which will begin at 4:30 pm (Los Angeles local time, Pacific Daylight Time – PDT), will feature performances by Katy Perry, Anitta, Future, Lisa, Rema and Tyla.
At 6pm (PDT), the North American team will play its first game at the World Cup, facing Paraguay.
Opening in the United States (Los Angeles):
- Friday (12), SoFi Stadium: 4:30 pm (local time) – Opening ceremony | 6pm (local time) – United States x Paraguay
- Broadcast: Globo, Globoplay, sportv, geTV, CazéTV, SBT and N Sports