Mexico City will be the stage on Thursday for the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Cup, the first contested by 48 teams and the first hosted by three countries: Mexico, the United States and Canada. The event will take place at the Estadio Ciudad de México, the former Azteca, before the opening match between host Mexico and South Africa. The ceremony will begin at 11:30 a.m. central Mexico time, about 90 minutes before the start of the match, set for 1:00 p.m. (2:30 and 4:00 p.m. in Montevideo and Buenos Aires; 1:30 and 3:00 p.m. in the eastern United States; 7:30 and 9:00 p.m. in Madrid).

Sixteen stadiums in Mexico, Canada and the United States will stage the games during the first 48-team World Cup. RFI looks at the venues to be used between 11 June and 19 July.

The World Cup 2026 opener pits host Mexico against South Africa at the Azteca on June 11, a rematch of their 2010 meeting and the first of 104 games.

The World Cup will be officially kick-started with the traditional opening ceremony before Mexico take on South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City

Este jueves 11 de junio comienza la Copa del Mundo 2026. Por primera vez en la historia, habrá tres ceremonias de apertura.

The expanded tournament is co-hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada with 104 matches in 16 stadiums over 39 days.

Mexico City is preparing to host the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday when the hosts take on South Africa at the iconic Estadio Azteca. The venue will become…

El Estadio Azteca de la capital mexicana será el escenario de la primera de las tres ceremonias de la Copa del Mundo. Los detalles

Mexico, the USA and Canada will all put on displays this week

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El Mundial arrancará con una ceremonia de apertura en el propio estadio que reunirá a artistas internacionales como Shakira, Burna Boy, J Balvin, Maná o Tyla

As the tournament kicks off, cohosts Mexico face South Africa in a replay of the 2010 edition's opening game.

The World Cup’s opener features hosts Mexico, who will be cheered on by fervent fans at Estadio Azteca

Este jueves se abre la Copa con una fiesta previa en el Azteca de México.El viernes será el turno de Canadá y Estados Unidos, antes de sus partidos.Shakira, Andra Bocellli,…

El evento comienza este jueves 11 de junio con su primer show previo al partido de México contra Sudáfrica.

The 2026 World Cup officially begins on June 11.

After a rocky buildup with high ticket prices, delayed federal funding for host cities, and visa issues, the World Cup has arrived.

It’s the largest in tournament history, with 48 teams and 104 matches.

La primera de las tres fiestas inaugurales que se llevarán a cabo en la Copa del Mundo de este año será este jueves en el estadio Azteca de la Ciudad de México

Mexico City will be the stage on Thursday for the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Cup, the first contested by 48 teams and the first hosted by three countries: Mexico, the…

Colombian pop queen Shakira will open the World Cup in Mexico City alongside Nigerian singer Burna Boy with a live performance of Dai Dai, the tournament's official song, on…