The long-awaited 2026 World Cup officially began this Tuesday (11) with a grand opening ceremony held at the Azteca Stadium, in Mexico City. The celebration kicked off the competition, which will have its first game played today between the teams of Mexico and South Africa. The World Cup launch party is scheduled to start at 2:30 pm (Brasília time), preceding the opening clash.
Expectations for the start of the match are high, with the ball rolling from 4pm (Brasília time), ending the pre-game phase and continuing the group stage clash schedule.
Football stars and big shows mark the beginning of the ceremony
Big names in Brazilian and world football, such as Ronaldo and Ronaldinho Gaúcho, were seen arriving to take part in the festivities leading up to the official opening of the 2026 World Cup. The presence of sporting icons further increased fans’ enthusiasm.
The musical part of the ceremony was inaugurated with the performance of the renowned band Maná, responsible for conducting the first artistic number at the legendary stadium. In addition to Maná, a grand spectacle is planned, with performances by international artists.
The musical program features the presence of Colombian star Shakira and Nigerian Burna Boy, who are expected to perform “Dai Dai”, the official song of the tournament. The talent roster also includes Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules and Tyla, promising a diverse and vibrant show for global audiences.
In an unusual moment during the pre-game, a journalist present at the stadium interrupted his live broadcast to take a photo with singer Shakira. The episode quickly had repercussions on social media, showing the impact of the artist’s presence.
Azteca Stadium revives memories and hosts a new chapter in history
The Azteca Stadium, the opening venue, is a place full of history in world football, holding countless memories of previous editions of the World Cup. Its importance is underlined by the fact that it is one of the few stadiums to host multiple inaugural events of the tournament.
Today’s match between Mexico and South Africa harks back to a previous historic clash. On another June 11, the two teams met at the opening of the 2010 World Cup, in South Africa, in a game that marked the beginning of that championship.
The choice of the Azteca Stadium for the kick-off of the 2026 World Cup reinforces its iconic position. Mexico City is preparing for the clash that will be broadcast to millions of viewers, marking the official start of the dispute between Mexico and South Africa.
Delegations and fans party in the streets of Mexico City
The Mexican national team delegation, including goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, was greeted with great celebration by fervent fans upon arriving at the Azteca Stadium for the opening match. The passion of the fans created an atmosphere of great celebration and expectation.
Mexico’s players enjoyed a warm and festive welcome at the stadium, culminating in the team’s official arrival. Meanwhile, the South African delegation also arrived at the match venue for the opening of the World Cup.
Bafana Bafana had already been at the Azteca for a few minutes, having disembarked from the team bus. In contrast, the Mexican team was still in transit, on the way to the stadium, which maintained the tension and expectation about their arrival.
Thousands of Mexican fans gathered in various parts of Mexico City to watch their team’s debut at the World Cup. The energy and enthusiasm in the streets reflected the importance of the event for the country.
Pre-game events include coaching matchups and group analysis
Before the opening whistle, it was highlighted that the current coaches of the Mexico and South Africa teams have already faced each other in previous editions of the World Cup. That history adds an extra layer of rivalry to the opening clash.
Still in the pre-game period, “five predictions” were released for the performance of the 2026 World Cup. These analyzes sought to anticipate possible surprises and favorites of the competition, generating debates among fans.
Journalist Rodrigo Coutinho also presented a detailed analysis of Group A of the tournament, which is made up of Mexico, South Africa, South Korea and the Czech Republic. The discussion addressed the strengths and weaknesses of each team, as well as their chances of advancing in the competition.
Social demonstration accompanies the opening party of the World Cup
In contrast to the festive atmosphere that took over the Azteca Stadium, there was an ongoing demonstration in Mexico City on the same day as the opening of the World Cup. From the early hours of the morning, members of the “Let’s Light Up the Search” movement occupied the streets near the stadium. The group organized a walk to protest the high number of victims of disappearances associated with drug cartels in the country, bringing to light a serious social issue amid the sporting celebration.