The anticipation and wait are finally over, and the greatest event in sports is here! The 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament has started, already smashing records and setting up to become one of the most memorable events in history. Three nations—the US, Mexico, and Canada—are working together to deliver a groundbreaking and innovative soccer tournament with a total number of teams increased to 48, which is something unprecedented in the history of this competition. It goes without saying that such a spectacular event requires a lot of preparation and careful planning.
In case you were wondering about where it all started, it did not take long for spectators to get the answer. The first matches of the World Cup took place in Mexico at the iconic Estadio Azteca, also known as the Mexico City Stadium. In fact, this is the first stadium in history hosting the World Cup matches for three times. During the opening match, there were more than 83,000 spectators.
As expected, the atmosphere before any football games cannot but be electrifying, which was proved once again during the ceremony, which was also held in Mexico. There, legendary singer and dancer Shakira made her return to the World Cup and joined such artists as Burna Boy and J Balvin to perform the official anthem of the championship.
However, as soon as the whistle blew, fans received an opportunity to watch football matches, and it was hard to tell what was better. The hosts won by the impressive score of 2–0 in the match with South Africa. Later that evening, another exciting match happened in the other part of North America, where Paraguay faced off the US team that won by 4–1, while Bosnia and Herzegovina managed to beat Canada and end up with a tie of 1–1. Now the whole World Cup tournament seems to be fully operational.
What makes the current World Cup unique is the number of teams. Never before have we witnessed such a big number of participants, so now there are 48 teams involved, which means that there will be 104 matches played over 39 days.
For example, the biggest favorites such as Brazil, France, and Argentina are experiencing enormous pressure because now there can be no mistakes since they should try to pass the first rounds of the championship. The group stages offer nothing but blockbusters for fans who will witness many brilliant tactical games, shocking losses, and the rise of superstars.
Although we are only starting our journey at the World Cup, I dare say that soccer is as alive as it has never been before. Soon enough, people from all around the globe will face many surprises that await them in the coming weeks before the grand finale at the New York-New Jersey Stadium on July 19.