World Cup 2026 begins with three opening ceremonies across North America

The grand spectacle of football, the ‘World Cup 2026’, kicks off today. According to Nepali time, the first match between Mexico and South Africa will start at 12:45 AM.

This World Cup is not just limited to a sports competition but is being presented as a vast cultural festival spread across North America. According to FIFA’s official announcements and international media reports, this year’s opening ceremony will encompass five special and historic aspects.

For the first time in history, there will be three opening ceremonies. Traditionally, the World Cup has had only one opening ceremony. However, in the 2026 edition, all three host nations—Mexico, Canada, and the United States—will hold separate opening ceremonies in their respective countries. FIFA has promoted this as a vibrant cultural showcase of the ‘three countries, one World Cup’ concept. The first ceremony will be held in Mexico City, the second in Toronto, and the third in Los Angeles.

The opening match will be held at a stadium with a historic record. In the opening match, host Mexico will face South Africa. This historic game will take place at the famous ‘Estadio Azteca’ (officially named Mexico City Stadium). Having already witnessed the opening ceremonies of the 1970 and 1986 World Cups, this stadium will host its third opening match, becoming the first stadium in the world to do so.

A gathering of global musical stars will also be a highlight. FIFA aims to make this World Cup a grand festival of both sports and entertainment. Renowned musicians and artists from around the world will perform at the opening ceremonies in all three countries.

In Mexico’s ceremony, stars like Shakira, Burna Boy, Maná, Alejandro Fernández, and Belinda will take the stage. Canada’s ceremony will feature Michael Bublé, Alanis Morissette, and Alessia Cara, while the American ceremony will see performances by global icons such as Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, Lisa, Rema, and Tayla.

Culturally, this World Cup is also special. Unlike Qatar 2022, which was centered around a single country’s culture, this time, Mexico’s ceremony will include programs showcasing local indigenous traditions, folk culture, ‘papel picado’ decorations, and Mexican identity. Meanwhile, Canada has announced the use of the ‘mosaic’ concept to reflect its multicultural identity, allowing the world to closely observe the diverse cultural landscape of North America.

This World Cup is the largest edition in history. The grandeur and buzz around the opening ceremony are primarily due to the massive scale of the tournament. It is the biggest edition in football history, with 48 nations participating. A total of 104 matches will be held in state-of-the-art stadiums across 16 cities. This is the first major tournament to be co-hosted by three countries.