Mexico City opened the World Cup on Thursday at the famous Azteca stadium with a ceremony celebrating pre-Hispanic culture, as the 80,000-capacity rocked ahead of the tournament's first match between Mexico and South Africa that kicked off against a backdrop of protests around the capital.
The opening match, which South Africa won 2-0, launched a sprawling tournament of 48 teams that will last nearly six weeks. Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez scored for the co-hosts while South Africa had two players sent off in a one-sided game in a Azteca stadium that hosted the 1970 and 1986 finals.
The extravagansa hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada is the biggest World Cup in history, stretching until the final in New Jersey on July 19 and is projected to generate a record-breaking $13bn billion in total revenue.
Fans in Mariachi costumes, with sombreros and trumpets, formed a sea of dark green support as Colombian superstar Shakira and Nigerian singer Burna Boy performed the 2026 World Cup anthem "Dai Dai" as pyrotechnics filled the ground.
Dancers twirled around a giant model of the World Cup trophy while fireworks went off in the historic stadium, which has been renovated for this year's tournament. J Balvin and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli were among the other performers before kickoff as the noise levels ramped up.
But there were scuffles outside the stadium as fans pushed and shoved as they tried to get into the official fan zone in the centre of Mexico City. The run-up to the tournament in Mexico has been marked by social unrest in the capital as various groups – from teachers to families of those missing in the drug war – have marched in attempts to leverage the international spotlight to advance their cause.
Access to the fan zone in Zocala plaza was hampered by metal barriers erected in recent days to prevent protesting teachers reaching the area.
"Stop pushing and shoving, there are children here, you're like animals!" a city official shouted through a megaphone as he tried to control access to the venue where the opening game was to be shown on a giant screen.
Some fans threw water bottles and hurled insults at police as well as chanting in support of the Mexican team. "It's crazy," said Javier Maciel, a 25-year-old fan. "There could have been better organization."
The local government announced on social media that the site was "full" and suggested fans go to other plazas.
The start of the action on the pitch will likely come as a welcome relief to football's world governing body FIFA, which has faced stinging criticism over the eye-watering costs of tickets. In addition, Donald Trump's immigration crackdown has seen a top Somali referee, Iranian team officials and fans refused entry to the United States.
Spain, France and England are the favourites, while reigning champions Argentina will look to their 38-year-old talisman Lionel Messi to drive them to the final.
