World Cup Opens Thursday in Mexico City With Record 48 Teams
The men's football World Cup begins Thursday in Mexico City. The tournament runs through July across venues in Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
France 24The men's football World Cup opens Thursday with its first match in Mexico City. The 2026 edition spans three host countries and includes a record 48 teams.
The expanded field marks the largest World Cup in the competition's history. Matches will be played across venues in Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Organizers have promoted the event as the biggest edition to date. The schedule runs from June through July.
Ticket prices have drawn criticism for reaching unusually high levels. Some observers have accused FIFA of artificially inflating costs. France 24 reported that the pricing issue has become a focal point of pre-tournament discussion.
Mexico are occurring alongside reports of social tensions. Coverage has noted both public events and underlying concerns among some residents. The tournament begins amid separate regional stories, including immigration enforcement questions affecting some potential attendees.
Mexico accepted the Iranian team with "no problem," Sheinbaum said. >"Mexico gets internationalism. " People-to-people relations will be on display as Mexico's World Cup host cities—Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey—hold free fan festivals that authorities expect will together draw millions of people.
The United States and Canada are also planning open-air viewing events, though not all are free; one in Los Angeles costs $10 to enter. In the United States, meanwhile, the local law enforcement agencies that will be maintaining safety are relatively unaccustomed to dealing with rowdy international soccer fans.
And in April, more than 120 civil society groups issued a travel advisory for World Cup events in the country, warning that fans, activists, and journalists could face actions including detentions, invasive electronic device searches, and suppression of protest.
" Back in New York, Lafta said he yearns for the United States to experience a positive World Cup spirit. The country would do well to take some cues from Mexico and be "more open and more loving and better fans of soccer," he said.
