As wars rage and controversy swirls, football's biggest spectacle is bringing fans together once again.

It’s finally here. The first of 104 matches in this biggest-ever World Cup kicks off in Mexico City when South Africa meets up with Mexico in the Estadio Azteca.

The 2026 World Cup kicks off on Thursday with a record 48 teams vying for the most coveted prize in football and a slew of controversies over ticket prices, geopolitical tensions…