The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to officially begin on Thursday, marking the start of an unforgettable summer of football across North America.

The opening match will take place at Mexico City Stadium, where co-hosts Mexico will face South Africa in what promises to be a vibrant and historic kickoff to the tournament.

For the first time ever, 64 nations will compete across 104 matches, all striving to claim the title of the world’s best football team.

The opening ceremony will commence 90 minutes before the Group A fixture between Mexico and South Africa. Scheduled for a 6:30 pm UK time kickoff, the ceremony will feature an impressive lineup of global stars. Shakira and Burna Boy will headline the event with a live performance of the official tournament anthem, “Dai Dai.”

Mexican-born Hollywood actor Salma Hayek will appear as a World Cup ambassador, while Colombian artists Ryan Castro and J Balvin will take to the pitch to perform as part of the spectacle.

ITV1 will broadcast the event live from 6:15 pm, followed by uninterrupted coverage of Mexico’s clash with South Africa, famously known as El Tri and Bafana Bafana respectively. South Africa, of course, were the World Cup hosts in 2010.

In addition to Mexico’s grand ceremony, two more opening events are planned during the early days of the tournament. The United States and Canada will each hold their own special shows to celebrate their role as co-hosts.

Canada’s opening home fixture against Bosnia and Herzegovina on 12 June will be preceded by a concert featuring Canadian icons Michael Bublé, Alessia Cara, and Alanis Morissette. The following day, Los Angeles will host a star-studded show before the USA vs Paraguay match on 13 June, where Katy Perry and rapper Future will perform alongside several international artists.

The decision to stage the opening match at Mexico City Stadium carries strong historical significance. The venue previously hosted the World Cup finals in both 1970 and 1986, which were won by Brazil and Argentina respectively. This year, it will host five matches in total, including one Round of 16 contest.

Outside of international tournaments, Mexico City Stadium serves as the home ground of Liga MX giants Club América.