WeeklySA_AdminRAZZMATAZZ: The biggest FIFA World Cup in history gets underway on Thursday with a glittering opening ceremony in Mexico, featuring Shakira, Burna Boy and a host of other stars, before hosts Mexico face South Africa and the United States take on Paraguay on the opening day…
By WSAM Sports Correspondent
The countdown is over. Next Thursday, the FIFA World Cup 2026 officially kicks off across North America with a spectacular opening ceremony in Mexico City, ushering in a tournament unlike any before it.
Expanded to 48 teams and hosted jointly by Mexico, Canada and the United States, the tournament marks a new era for world football. The opening day promises a blend of sport, music and culture, beginning with a star-studded celebration before attention turns to the first matches of the competition.
Global Music Stars
FIFA has assembled an impressive line-up of international artists for the opening ceremony at Mexico City Stadium, which will begin 90 minutes before kick-off. Among the headline performers are Shakira and Nigerian superstar Burna Boy, who will perform Dai Dai, the Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Song supporting the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.
The show will also feature performances from Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules, Maná and South African Grammy-winning sensation Tyla, creating a musical showcase that reflects the diversity of the tournament itself.
FIFA says fans inside the stadium will play an active role in the festivities, with gates opening four hours before kick-off and a range of entertainment and interactive experiences planned throughout the day.
The performance of Dai Dai also highlights FIFA’s Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise US$100 million to expand access to education and football opportunities for children around the world.
A New Matchday Experience
Beyond the entertainment, FIFA is introducing a revamped pre-match ceremony designed to bring players and supporters closer together.
The new fan-focused format will feature players entering through dedicated arches alongside youth programme escorts before assembling around a giant centre-circle banner during the national anthems. In a departure from previous World Cups, every member of the matchday squad—not only the starting XI—will take part in the anthem ceremony.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the initiative is intended to create a shared moment of unity and pride between players and supporters.
The ceremony will also feature giant national flags, immersive stadium displays and enhanced visual effects, with pyrotechnics and coloured smoke set to be introduced later in the tournament.
SA Faces Hosts Mexico
Once the celebrations conclude, football takes centre stage as Mexico and South Africa meet in the opening match of the tournament.
For Bafana Bafana, the occasion offers an immediate opportunity to make a statement against one of the host nations in front of a partisan crowd. South Africa arrives at the World Cup determined to build on its recent resurgence and will be looking to spoil Mexico’s party in one of the most anticipated opening fixtures in recent memory.
Mexico, meanwhile, will carry the hopes of millions of supporters as they seek a winning start on home soil. The pressure of opening the tournament can often weigh heavily on host nations, but Mexico’s experience and passionate support are expected to make them formidable opponents.
With both teams eager to launch their campaigns positively, the opening fixture promises intensity, emotion and the unique atmosphere that only a World Cup curtain-raiser can deliver.
USA vs Paraguay
Later on opening day, attention shifts north as the United States begins its campaign against Paraguay.
As one of the co-hosts, the Americans will be under pressure to justify growing expectations and demonstrate their progress on the global stage. Playing at home provides a significant advantage, but Paraguay’s reputation for disciplined and resilient football means the encounter is unlikely to be straightforward.
The match will offer an early indication of whether the United States can emerge as one of the tournament’s dark horses, while Paraguay will be eager to prove that South American teams remain capable of challenging the world’s elite.
A New Era Begins
The opening day encapsulates everything FIFA hopes this expanded tournament will represent: global participation, cultural celebration and football’s unmatched ability to unite people across continents.
From Shakira and Burna Boy electrifying the crowd in Mexico City to South Africa’s clash with the hosts and the United States taking on Paraguay, the first day of FIFA World Cup 2026 promises a memorable start to what is expected to be the largest and most watched tournament in football history.
