Opening of the 2026 World Cup: A Grand Ceremony Combining Music, Culture, and Football

The 2026 World Cup kicks off in the United States, Mexico, and Canada this Thursday evening at Mexico City Stadium, historically known as Azteca Stadium, hosting the opening match between the Mexican national team and its South African counterpart at 10 PM Cairo time, following an opening ceremony lasting about an hour and a half, combining music, culture, and football.

Mexico City Stadium is one of the most prominent stadiums in World Cup history, having hosted 19 World Cup matches and two finals, in addition to notable historical events such as the 'Goal of the Century' and the 'Hand of God' goal by Diego Maradona in the 1986 edition, as well as the 1970 final that saw Brazil crowned under Pelé's leadership.

The report stated that the stadium will be named Mexico City Stadium during the tournament instead of its current commercial name, in compliance with FIFA regulations that prohibit the use of promotional names during official competitions.

The opening ceremony will begin before the match at 8:30 PM, transforming the stadium into a major artistic display combining music and cultural performances.

The ceremony will feature several prominent artists, including Alejandro Fernández who will perform the Mexican national anthem, alongside Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Angeles Azules, Mana, and Tila, in a show aimed at integrating music, culture, and football.

The opening also includes a new protocol for the national anthem, with players from both teams lining up around the center circle after exiting the tunnel instead of the traditional lineup.

This ceremony is part of three opening events for the tournament in the host countries, with Los Angeles and Toronto hosting additional opening ceremonies before other matches, in an edition considered the largest in World Cup history with 48 participating teams.