The Mt Kenya Times 
By Norman Mwale
“This is not just a tournament. It is a continent-wide celebration of football, and it begins today in the Azteca.” — FIFA President Gianni Infantino
The sun has risen on the most ambitious World Cup in history, and the countdown is over. On Thursday, 11 June 2026, at 13:00 local time in Mexico City, the 23rd FIFA World Cup begins at the iconic Estadio Azteca as hosts Mexico face South Africa, launching a 39-day, 104-match odyssey across three nations. When the final whistle blows at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday, 19 July, football will have written a new chapter: 48 teams, 16 cities, and more than one billion people expected to watch the opening clash.
The Azteca, already the only stadium to have staged two World Cup finals and two opening matches, now becomes the first ground in history to host three tournament openers. “To start the biggest World Cup ever in the Azteca is symbolic,” said Mexican Football Federation president Ivar Sisniega. “This stadium is where Pelé lifted the trophy in 1970 and Maradona in 1986. Today, it welcomes the world again.” Kick-off is set for 21:00 CET, 20:00 BST, with an opening ceremony featuring Shakira and Burna Boy beginning 90 minutes earlier.
For the first time, the World Cup spans three host nations. After Mexico’s opener, Canada begin their campaign tomorrow, Friday, 12 June, at BMO Field in Toronto against Bosnia and Herzegovina, while the United States face Paraguay the same day at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. “Innovative match scheduling is designed to minimise travel for teams and fans alike, ensuring that players’ rest and recovery are prioritised throughout the tournament,” FIFA stated in its official release.
The scale is unprecedented. From 11 June to 27 June, the group stage will deliver 72 matches across the United States, Canada and Mexico, before the knockout phase begins on 28 June with a new round of 32. Fans will have only five days without a scheduled match — 8, 12, 13, 16 and 17 July — until the final. For UK audiences, games will kick off between 17:00 and 05:00 BST, with Sky Sports News running a dedicated ‘World Cup Breakfast’ programme from 07:00 to 10:00 each day.
Players and coaches have spent the last week absorbing the magnitude of the moment. “This is the dream,” said USA head coach Gregg Berhalter. “To play the opening match for the US in Los Angeles, in front of our fans, is what these players have worked their whole lives for.” Canada’s captain echoed the sentiment: “Our country has waited 40 years for this moment. Today, it begins.”
The tournament’s expansion to 48 teams has drawn both excitement and scrutiny. It guarantees debuts, reunions, and a record 1,000th World Cup match when Tunisia meet Japan in Monterrey on 20 June. Yet it also brings logistical demands, with FIFA confirming that dynamic pricing has pushed some final tickets beyond $10,990 and resale seats as high as $38,665. Still, officials insist access remains a priority. FIFA announced a £45, or $60, tier for every match, including the final, representing 10 per cent of each member association’s allocation.
As the clock ticks forward, security, transport and fan zones across Mexico City, Toronto and Los Angeles have moved into their final operational phase. “We are ready,” said Mexico City mayor Clara Brugada. “The Azteca is ready. The world is welcome.”
From the high altitude of the Azteca to the lights of New York New Jersey, the 2026 World Cup begins today. The game is about to get bigger than ever.
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