The First 48-Team World Cup Opens in Mexico City

On June 11, 2026, the 23rd FIFA World Cup opened in Mexico City, marking the beginning of the largest edition in the tournament's history. Mexico's historic Estadio Azteca served as the setting for the opening match, becoming the first stadium to stage matches across three distinct World Cups, having previously hosted during the 1970 and 1986 competitions. The match also inaugurated a historic tripartite hosting arrangement, as Canada, Mexico, and the United States joined together to stage the contest across sixteen North American metropolitan areas.

The shared staging marked the first time three nations had co-hosted a World Cup, following the dual hosting model introduced when Japan and South Korea shared the 2002 tournament. The United 2026 bid earned the hosting rights at the 68th FIFA Congress in Moscow in 2018, securing 134 votes to defeat a rival bid from Morocco. The selection made Mexico the first country to host matches in three separate men's World Cups, while the United States hosted for the second time, and Canada staged men's tournament matches for the first time.