KATHMANDU, JUNE 12
The FIFA World Cup 2026, the largest edition in the tournament's history, gets underway today with hosts Mexico taking on South Africa in the opening match at Mexico City Stadium.
The Group A encounter is scheduled to begin at 12:45 am Nepali time, with both sides aiming for a winning start. The group also includes the Czech Republic and South Korea.
Mexico enters the tournament seeking to improve on its recent World Cup performances. The team exited in the group stage at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, while its previous seven appearances between 1994 and 2018 ended in the Round of 16. Its best World Cup finishes came in 1970 and 1986 when it reached the quarter-finals.
South Africa, meanwhile, is making its first World Cup appearance since hosting the tournament in 2010, where it failed to progress beyond the group stage.
For the first time in World Cup history, 48 nations are competing, up from 32 teams in previous editions. The tournament will be played across 16 cities in the United States, Mexico and Canada, with 11 host cities in the US, three in Mexico and two in Canada.
Separate opening ceremonies are being held in all three host countries, showcasing their culture, history and national identity. International artists, including Shakira, Burna Boy and J Balvin, are set to perform at the main ceremony in Mexico City.
The United States will begin its campaign against Paraguay in Los Angeles, while Canada will also stage its opening ceremony in Toronto.
The month-long tournament will conclude with the final in New York on July 19.