“Azteca” ignites the spark of the 2026 World Cup

The eyes of football fans from around the world will turn to the famous Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, today, at 19:30 UAE time, as the 2026 World Cup begins with an exceptional opening ceremony preceding the match between Mexico and South Africa, in an edition that is considered the most distinguished in the history of the tournament in terms of organization, size and accompanying events.

The current edition holds many historical precedents, as it is being held for the first time in three countries, the United States, Mexico and Canada. It also witnesses for the first time three separate opening ceremonies, with each country hosting its own celebration coinciding with the start of its first matches in the tournament.

The celebrations begin in the Mexican capital, where the Azteca Stadium, which became called “Estadio Ciudad de Mexico” during the tournament, will host the first opening ceremony before the Mexican national team faces its South African counterpart in the opening match.

The Mexican authorities paid exceptional attention to the event, as they announced the suspension of studies in schools and universities, and asked government employees to work from home to ease the expected traffic congestion in the capital, which is famous for its population density and congested traffic.

These measures come with the aim of facilitating the movement of fans, and ensuring smooth access to the stadium, on a day expected to witness a huge crowd attendance.

The opening ceremony is scheduled to begin 90 minutes before the start of the match, where the artistic and exhibition activities will begin, and the match will be held at 1 pm Mexico time (23:00 pm UAE time).

Colombian star Shakira tops the list of participants in the ceremony, as she, along with Nigerian star Burna Boy, performs the official song of the 2026 World Cup, “Day Day,” in one of the most anticipated segments during the celebration.

The artistic participation is not limited to Shakira and Burna Boy, but includes a large group of the most prominent music stars in Latin America and the world, including Alejandro Fernandez, Belinda, J Balvin, Danny Ocean, Lila Downs, the Los Angeles Azules band, and the Mana band, in addition to the South African singer Tayla.

This musical diversity reflects the international character of the tournament, as the organizing committee seeks to present a show that combines Mexican culture, Latin rhythms and international touches in a festive scene that matches the World Cup’s status as the largest sporting event on Earth.

Hours after the start of the competitions in Mexico, the celebrations move to Canada and the United States.

In Toronto, Canada will host its opening ceremony, tomorrow, before facing Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the participation of a group of prominent artists, including Michael Bublé, Alessia Cara, Alanis Morissette, Jesse Reyes, and Nora Fatehi.

As for the United States, it will hold its own celebration at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, which is called “Los Angeles Stadium,” during the tournament, in compliance with FIFA regulations regarding commercial sponsors. The ceremony will be held before the United States-Paraguay match, with the participation of Katy Perry, Lisa, Anita, Future, Rima, and Tayla.

The doors of the stadiums will open hours before the start of the matches, with entertainment events, interactive experiences, musical performances and live programs for the fans organized, as part of the organizers’ efforts to transform the opening days of the matches into integrated sports and cultural festivals.

With the countdown to the start of the competitions, the fans seem to be preparing for an exceptional opening that combines football, music and parade, and paves the way for an edition that is expected to be one of the most distinguished and exciting editions of the World Cup in history.

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Mexico is the first country to host the opening match 3 times

Mexico opens the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches today against South Africa, becoming the first country to host the opening match of the tournament three times.

Mexico has a long and not entirely successful history when it comes to the beginning of its journey in the largest football tournament in the world.

. 3 separate opening ceremonies will be held in the current version of the tournament for the first time.

. Celebrations later move to Canada and the United States.