The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially starts on Thursday, June 11, with a highly anticipated opening match between the host nation Mexico and South Africa.

This match marks the beginning of a long tournament featuring 71 group-stage matches. Each team will compete to earn enough points to qualify for the next round of the competition.

The expanded format of the 2026 World Cup allows more nations to participate, making the tournament more competitive and diverse than ever before.

After the group stage, 32 teams will advance to the round of 16, where the knockout phase begins. From that point, every match becomes decisive, increasing the intensity and pressure on all participating teams.

Fans around the world are eagerly waiting to see which teams will perform strongly and which underdogs may surprise during this historic edition of the World Cup.

The tournament promises weeks of excitement, football drama, and global attention as the race for the World Cup trophy begins.