World Cup 2026 kicks off in Mexico City as 48 nations chase sport's biggest prize

The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins on Thursday, June 11, when hosts Mexico face South Africa at the Mexico City Stadium in front of a sell-out crowd of 83,000 — the opening match of the largest World Cup in history, featuring 48 nations for the first time.

The tournament spans three host nations — Mexico, Canada, and the United States — with the final scheduled for New Jersey on July 19. Spain enter as bookmakers’ favourites, while England and Scotland are among the British sides hoping to make a deep run.

Thomas Tuchel’s England warmed up with a 3-0 victory over Costa Rica, with Jude Bellingham catching the eye. Tuchel confirmed he had yet to finalise his starting line-up for the group stage opener against Croatia on June 17, telling reporters he wanted to give fringe players additional minutes before settling on his first XI. Steve Clarke’s Scotland begin their campaign against Haiti on June 13.

The build-up has not been without controversy. Somalian referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the United States after a 19-hour interrogation at Miami airport, raising concerns about the treatment of tournament officials and fans at the border. Iran’s national team have had their group-stage fixtures moved to Mexico following escalating tensions with the United States, while fears persist that undocumented supporters could face detention by immigration enforcement officers.

Off the pitch, the cost of attending has drawn widespread criticism. Ticket prices reaching thousands of dollars per game, combined with steep hotel and transport costs across all three host countries, have prompted accusations of price gouging ahead of what organisers hope will be the most-watched sporting event ever staged. Experts estimate more than five billion people could follow the action over the next six weeks.