Curtain goes up today on world’s greatest show
Thursday, 11 June 2026
The 2026 FIFA World Cup gets under way today (Thursday), ushering in a new era for international football with a record 48 teams competing in the biggest edition of the tournament ever staged, report agencies.
The competition, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will feature 104 matches across 16 venues over nearly six weeks.
It is the first World Cup to be hosted by three nations and the first to expand from 32 to 48 teams.
The tournament opens at Mexico City's iconic Estadio Azteca, where co-hosts Mexico will face South Africa on Thursday (12:00am Bangladesh time on Friday).
The match marks the beginning of a global sporting spectacle expected to attract millions of fans to stadiums and billions more viewers around the world.
The expanded format gives more countries the opportunity to compete on football's biggest stage, increasing the tournament's reach and diversity.
Teams from every continent will battle for the sport's most coveted trophy, with the final scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Defending champions Argentina arrive as one of the favourites after lifting the trophy in Qatar four years ago.
Much of the spotlight will again fall on captain Lionel Messi, who at 38 remains one of the game's most influential figures. A successful title defence would further cement his place among football's all-time greats.
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo is also expected to draw global attention. The 41-year-old forward is seeking to guide his country to a first World Cup title, adding another chapter to one of football's most remarkable careers.
Traditional powerhouses including Brazil, Germany, France, Spain and England will also be among the leading contenders as they seek to add to their World Cup legacies.
The 2026 edition introduces several innovations. For the first time in World Cup history, cooling breaks will be available during every match to help players cope with high temperatures and humidity that may be experienced at some venues.