The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off Thursday in Mexico City, launching the biggest edition of the tournament since it began in 1930, with a record 48 national teams competing across three host nations for the first time.

Mexico faced South Africa in the opening Group A match at the Estadio Azteca, a venue that became the first stadium to host World Cup fixtures across three separate editions, having previously done so in 1970 and 1986.

Jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, the tournament spans 16 cities across the three countries, with 11 venues in the US, three in Mexico and two in Canada. The expanded format increases the total number of matches from 64 to 104, stretching the competition to nearly six weeks.

The 2026 edition also marks a historic milestone for Arab football, with eight teams from the region qualifying for the finals. Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan and Iraq represent the largest Arab presence in World Cup history.

The full field breaks down to 16 European teams, 10 African sides, nine from Asia, six each from South America and Concacaf, and one representative from Oceania.

Off the pitch, FIFA anticipates around seven million spectators attending matches in person, while global viewership is projected to approach six billion across broadcasting platforms worldwide. The governing body expects the expanded format to drive record revenues through ticket sales, broadcasting rights and commercial partnerships.

The final is scheduled to be held in the United States, bringing a tournament that spans a continent to its conclusion at one of the sport’s most anticipated finales in decades.

News Source: Emirates News Agency