The FIFA World Cup 2026 officially began on June 11 in Mexico City with a 2-0 Mexico win over South Africa. Here is everything you need to know about the biggest World Cup in history including the stars playing their last tournament.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Has Begun: Mexico Opens With a Win, Legends Play Their Farewell Dance

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Shakira performed at the Azteca. Mexico scored within ten minutes. Three players received red cards. Raul Jiminez cried upon scoring his goal. Meanwhile in Riyadh, there’s a man aged 41 who is putting on his boots with one last attempt to win the cup he has been dreaming of all his life. It’s World Cup time.

By DeeplyExpress Entertainment Desk


There is something about the World Cup that only someone who has been there can understand. It is not the strategies. It is not the numbers. It is a vibe. The vibe that comes from the crowd of 87,000 people holding their breath at the same time in the stadium when a football hits the crossbar and the entire country holds its breath at the same time and exhales in unison. The vibe when a player who took several years to recover from a skull fracture finally scores a goal before his people and drops to the floor sobbing uncontrollably. This is what went down at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11, 2026. The FIFA World Cup 2026 has just started, and it has already shown the whole world precisely why this event remains the most-watched sporting event on earth.

THE AZTECA STADIUM’S UNFORGETTABLE OPENING CEREMONY

Before play even started, Estadio Azteca was in the hands of the artists. The opening ceremony showcased performances from artist Shakira, whose voice gave the stadium an energy only possible during the World Cup in midday on a Thursday. Other artists featured were Colombian artist J Balvin, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, singer-songwriter Alejandro Fernandez, as well as Venezuelan artist Danny Ocean. The stage was surrounded by Ballet Folklorico de Mexico dancers. FIFA World Cup Trophy was carried inside the stadium by Salma Hayek, a renowned actress from Mexico, standing alongside Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA. The game finally began. And what a game it was!

Quinones etched himself into the history books of the World Cup when he scored the first ever goal in the tenth minute. It was an eruption at the Azteca. However, the moment of the match came courtesy of Raúl Jiménez. The 35-year-old forward, who had previously broken his skull in November 2020 which everyone thought would spell the end of his career for good, went on to score the second goal in the second half of the game. He kneeled down on the field and cried, and the tens of thousands of Mexicans in attendance did the same. Across the globe, any viewer aware of his backstory couldn’t help but cry too. And this is what football does.

The game was also very disorderly with the referee handing out three red cards over the 90 minutes, more dismissals than there have been ever before in a World Cup game throughout history. South Africa, appearing in their first World Cup after the 2010 one that they hosted, were now playing with ten men and could not bounce back from it. México have begun their home World Cup with precisely the right kind of result.

NIGHT TO REMEMBER FOR AZTECA STADIUM
Estadio Azteca, home too many legendary moments in the sport, became the first stadium in World Cup history to host three consecutive World Cup openers, having been used in 1970 and 1986. Some of the greatest moments ever seen on the pitch include the famous hand-of-God goal by Diego Maradona in 1986. This tradition continued on June 11, 2026.

WHY THIS WORLD CUP FEELS DIFFERENT

It is the first World Cup held with 48 teams as opposed to the 32-team system. This translates to an increase of 16 countries, 16 additional narratives, and 16 more countries enjoying the event either for the very first time or coming back after years. Additionally, it features 104 matches hosted in Mexico, the United States, and Canada, becoming the first World Cup hosted by three countries at once.

The format consists of groups with 3 teams as opposed to 4 in the former system, with the top 2 of each group and the best 8 third-placed teams advancing into a 32 team knock-out round. People were skeptical about the new format resulting in too many games without meaning. The first day of football tried its best to refute that claim. South Korea started out on Day 1 with a win, but the world will see more.

A FAREWELL DANCE FOR THE LEGENDS OF THE GAME

Perhaps one of the most poignant stories of the 2026 World Cup is that which needs no telling at all. For a number of the finest players that the sport has seen, it will undoubtedly be their last appearance on the world stage.

  • Cristiano Ronaldo, Country: Portugal
    AGE: 41 AT TIME OF TOURNAMENT · 6TH WORLD CUP
    Has stated that this will be “definitely” his final World Cup. Currently has record appearances (226) and record goals (143) for international team. The World Cup is the only major tournament he hasn’t won yet.

  • Lionel Messi, Country: Argentina
    AGE 39 DURING THE TOURNAMENT · WORLD CUP NO. 6
    The champion title holder aims to secure the first repeat victory since Brazil in 1958 and 1962 when he leads Argentina to their next victory in the World Cup finals. He has suggested that his upcoming match against Venezuela could be his last for Argentina.

  • Neymar Jr, Country: Brazil
    AGE 34 DURING TOURNAMENT
    It all comes down to fitness. If he’s fit, one of the most dangerous players out there. No World Cup win by Brazil with Neymar fit since making his debut.

  • Luka Modric, Country: Croatia
    40 YEARS OLD DURING THE TOURNAMENT
    Considered to be one of the best midfield players of his era and the heart and soul of the Croatian national team’s spectacular World Cup run-up to the final.

  • Robert Lewandowski, Country: Poland
    AGE 37 DURING TOURNAMENT
    Poland’s all-time top scorer hopes for a final deep tournament run before retiring. Lewandowski’s experience and goal-scoring prowess have been consistent in every major tournament appearance for Poland for more than ten years.

  • Mohamed Salah, Country: Egypt
    TURNS 34 DURING TOURNAMENT
    Egypt’s most crucial player in decades. The one who brought Egypt to the tournament. His last World Cup opportunity to prove that African football deserves recognition.

“Yes, absolutely. This will be my 41st birthday, and I believe it will be at this point that I retire. I have given everything to football. I have played in the sport for the past 25 years. I have done everything.”

CRISTIANO RONALDO, INTERVIEWED BY CNN, NOVEMBER 2025

There is much more to Ronaldo’s statement than just sports. This player has already netted over 950 goals for both his clubs and his nation. He has also won the Ballon d’Or award on five occasions. But there is one trophy which he lacks, despite having tried five times. And it’s the World Cup winners’ medal. Portugal find themselves among the favorites this time around, along with Colombia, Uzbekistan and DR Congo in Group K.

The World Cup is not only a matter of 90 minutes, but rather it involves each year of training, each night of faith, every kid that ever played football dreaming of this moment.”

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FIFA WORLD CUP 2026

  • When did the FIFA World Cup 2026 begin?
    The FIFA World Cup 2026 began with its opening match and ceremony on June 11, 2026, which was hosted at the Estadio Azteca stadium in Mexico City, where the host country defeated South Africa by 2 goals to 0.

  • How many teams are participating in the FIFA World Cup 2026?
    48 teams are participating in the FIFA World Cup 2026. This is the largest FIFA World Cup ever, considering that the previous format had only 32 teams.

  • Which countries are playing host to the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
    Three nations will play host to the competition: Mexico, the United States of America, and Canada. The event marks the first World Cup to be hosted simultaneously by three countries.

  • Who scored the first goal of the FIFA World Cup 2026?
    The first goal of the 2026 World Cup was scored by Julian Quinones from Mexico, ten minutes into the game between Mexico and South Africa, which kicked off at the Estadio Azteca, Mexico City on June 11, 2026.

  • Is Cristiano Ronaldo playing in the World Cup 2026?
    Yes. Cristiano Ronaldo, who is 41 years old, was selected as part of Portugal’s national team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He revealed that he would play in his sixth and final World Cup before retiring. He set the record for having the highest number of caps for an international player with 226 appearances and the highest number of international goals scored with 143.

  • Who is the defending FIFA World Cup champion?
    The defending champions are Argentina, who won the last FIFA World Cup held in Qatar. Argentina is currently number one in the FIFA World Rankings and will start its World Cup defence from group A. Lionel Messi is expected to lead Argentina in the last World Cup of his career.


MORE THAN A TOURNAMENT

After living through so much of life in 2026, seeing wars, learning about financial crises, and feeling unsure of everything happening around us, the World Cup provides the one thing we need right now. It is not a way to run away from reality; it is just a reminder that there are still some things that cause everyone in the world to come together to watch, simply for the sake of having fun.

Ronaldo will go for one more. Messi will fight to keep his. In Colombia, Morocco, or Japan, somewhere in the world, some young soccer star will find his first goal in the World Cup and win eternal fame. And millions of fans, whether they be from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Brazil, Nigeria, or any other part of the world, will watch, debate, cheer, and never forget why they loved this beautiful game.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is just beginning. It will continue into mid-July. But after just one night in Mexico City, we know that whatever else happens, it will be remembered by the world as an event not easily forgotten.

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