The 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially started in North America — one of the largest and most expensive tournaments in the history of this sport. For the first time in history, the world championship is hosted by three countries: the United States of America, Canada, and Mexico.
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The first solemn opening ceremony took place in the capital of Mexico — Mexico City. But this is just the beginning of the celebration: the organizers have planned two more official ceremonies — in Toronto (Canada) and Los Angeles (USA). Thus, each host country had the opportunity to present its culture, musical traditions, and connection to football.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino noted at the ceremony that these events should showcase both the unique characteristics of each of the three countries and their common aspiration to make the tournament a true global celebration.
The opening ceremony in Mexico City featured a grand musical program. Famous performers from various countries performed before the audience. Among them were Mexican artists, Colombian rapper J Balvin, world-renowned Colombian singer Shakira, and Nigerian musician Burna Boy. They performed the song Dai Dai, which became one of the main musical compositions of the tournament.
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Also, before the first match, Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli performed together with South Korean singer EJAE. They performed the official championship anthem DNA (More Than A Game), which was created with the participation of French DJ David Guetta and American singer Megan Thee Stallion.
Shakira, by the way, will also participate in the main show of the final match on July 19. Alongside her, two more global stars are expected to appear on stage — American singer Madonna and South Korean musical group BTS.
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Shortly after the opening ceremony, the first match of the tournament between the national teams of Mexico and the Republic of South Africa began at the legendary Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. This match officially marked the start of the championship.
The 2026 World Cup is considered the most expensive in the history of football. During the tournament, 104 matches will be held in 16 cities across three countries, with the majority of stadiums located in the USA. The final match is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, near New York.
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Another historical feature of the tournament is a record number of participants. For the first time, 48 national teams are competing in the final stage instead of the previous 32. The increase in participants has allowed several new teams to debut in the championship, including the national teams of Uzbekistan, Jordan, Cape Verde, and other countries that had never previously participated in the final stage of the world championship.
The participation of the Iranian national team attracts special attention. This takes place against the backdrop of very tense relations between Iran and the United States, which are currently in a state of serious military-political confrontation. Thus, the championship becomes not only a major sporting event but also a platform where countries with very different political interests coexist.
Overall, the 2026 World Cup has already made history even before its completion: it became the first tournament to be hosted by three countries simultaneously, featured the largest number of participants, the greatest number of matches, and an unprecedented scale of organization.
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