FIFA World Cup 2026 Kicks Off Today Across the US, Canada, and Mexico

The biggest soccer tournament on the planet just kicked off — and if you're anywhere in North America, this one's literally in your backyard.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially began today, June 11, making history as the first World Cup ever hosted simultaneously across three countries. The tournament is the first FIFA World Cup to be hosted by three nations and the first to include 48 teams, an expansion from 32 previously. That means more matches, more countries, more drama — and if you live in the US, Canada, or Mexico, there's a very real chance some of this action is happening near you.

The tournament opened in Mexico City, where the group stage begins Thursday, June 11, with Mexico hosting South Africa for the World Cup opener at the historic Estadio Azteca. It's a rematch with some serious history baked in — the matchup with South Africa is a repeat of the 2010 World Cup opener between the two sides. And here's a fun trivia nugget: Mexico City Stadium becomes the first venue in history to host matches across three World Cups, having previously hosted World Cup matches in 1970 and 1986.

The opening ceremonies are being spread across all three host nations over June 11 and 12. The 2026 World Cup is launching with a series of historic opening ceremonies across North America, marking the first time the tournament has been launched simultaneously in three host countries. Mexico's ceremony featured a star-studded lineup — performances by Mexican rock band Maná, Colombian singer Shakira, Nigerian singer Burna Boy, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, and an appearance by Mexican-American actress Salma Hayek, among others. The US ceremony featured large-scale visuals, immersive storytelling, and performances from global artists including Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema, and Tyla.

For fans in Mexico City, the day has a festive, almost surreal feel — authorities declared June 11 a public holiday in Mexico City, with schools closed and employers encouraged to allow remote work. Not everyone's thrilled, though: protesters threatened to block major roads leading to Mexico City Stadium, though authorities responded with a large security operation and said the opening ceremony was not at risk.

If you're in the US, your team kicks off Friday night. The US Men's National Team plays its first 2026 World Cup game against Paraguay on Friday, June 12, with a 6 p.m. scheduled kickoff at SoFi Stadium in California. The US was placed into Group D alongside Australia, Paraguay, and Turkey. Canada also plays Friday — Canada's opener takes place in Toronto on Friday afternoon.

The scale of this tournament is genuinely unprecedented. The tournament will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches over 39 days. It will be jointly hosted by sixteen cities — eleven in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada. The whole thing wraps up with the World Cup final on July 19 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, at MetLife Stadium.

As for who's favored to win it all? Argentina, led by star forward Lionel Messi, is currently ranked No. 1 according to FIFA, with Spain, France, England, and Portugal rounding out the top five. Argentina is the defending champion, having won its third World Cup title in 2022. And the winner this time will take home more than just a trophy — this year's winning team will receive a record $50 million in prize money.

Whether you're a die-hard soccer fan or someone who only tunes in every four years, this is the one to watch. The games are on FOX and FS1 in English, and Telemundo in Spanish. For free streaming, Tubi will simulcast the opening ceremonies and the opening matches. You've got 39 days of football coming your way — it's officially on.