From "Azteca" the story begins.. The 2026 edition opens a new chapter in World Cup history.
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From "Azteca" the story begins.. The 2026 edition opens a new chapter in World Cup history.
Hesspress Sports·
The eyes of the world will turn on Thursday to the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, where the 2026 World Cup kicks off with a match between the Mexican national team and their South African counterparts, marking the opening of an exceptional edition of the tournament that will go down in history as the largest since the World Cup began nearly a century ago. For the first time, 48 teams will participate, and the event will take place across three countries: the United States, Mexico, and Canada, with competitions continuing until the final match scheduled for July 19 in New Jersey, USA.
The uniqueness of this edition is not limited to the unprecedented expansion in the number of teams and matches, but extends to the scale of the economic, political, and organizational stakes associated with it, at a time when FIFA is striving to present a version capable of affirming the World Cup's status as the most-watched sporting event globally.
The choice of Azteca Stadium to host the opening match carries significance that goes beyond organizational aspects. The stadium, one of the most famous in football history, witnessed Brazilian legend Pelé winning his third World Cup title in 1970, and sixteen years later, it hosted Argentine Diego Maradona's victory, a cup forever linked to his name, during which he delivered one of the most impactful individual performances in the history of the game.
With this hosting, Mexico becomes the first country to host World Cup matches in three different editions, having organized the tournaments in 1970 and 1986. Although the United States will host the most matches, the tournament's kickoff from Mexican soil grants the Latin American country a prominent symbolic position in an edition expected to attract record numbers in terms of attendance and television viewership.
Over the past two years, Azteca Stadium has undergone extensive renovations, including updates to its main facilities, playing surface, and seating areas. Its capacity has been reduced from over 100,000 spectators to about 83,000 according to modern standards set by FIFA, a process aimed at preserving the stadium's historical character while adapting it to the requirements of major sporting events in the 21st century.
This tournament follows a decision made by FIFA in 2017 to expand the number of participating teams from 32 to 48, a decision that sparked widespread debate at the time, with supporters seeing it as an opportunity for broader representation of different continents, while opponents warned of its potential impact on the tournament's technical level. However, FIFA proceeded with the project as a necessary step to keep pace with the global growth of football.
Under the new system, the number of matches has increased to 104 compared to 64 in previous editions, making the 2026 World Cup longer and more complex from an organizational standpoint, and necessitating unprecedented coordination among the three host countries, which are geographically spread over vast distances.
FIFA estimates that the tournament could generate revenues of around $13 billion, a figure that reflects the scale of investments and expected income from broadcasting rights, sponsorship, marketing, ticket sales, and commercial activities associated with the World Cup.
However, these massive financial expectations have not prevented a rise in criticism in recent weeks over ticket prices, which many consider to be exorbitantly high, with some packages for major matches exceeding tens of thousands of dollars, sparking widespread debate among football fans and consumer rights groups.
In a press conference held Wednesday in Mexico City, FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the pricing policy, stating that the federation also offered tickets at relatively low prices in response to concerns raised in recent months. He noted that the lowest ticket price of $60 is less than the entry fees for many major American sporting events, emphasizing that the average prices remain within acceptable limits compared to similar sporting events.
Although the debate over ticket prices has dominated discussions leading up to the tournament, the issues of immigration and visas have also made their way onto the World Cup agenda, especially in light of the stringent measures adopted by the U.S. administration in recent times.
The denial of entry to Somali referee Omar Artan into the United States has garnered significant attention in sports circles, after U.S. authorities announced his entry was rejected for security reasons, a decision that later led to his exclusion from officiating matches in the tournament, becoming one of the most controversial issues before the kickoff.
Infantino commented on this issue by stating that FIFA does not control all sovereign decisions of countries, adding that the organization continuously works with the relevant governments to facilitate the participation of all parties involved in the tournament. He also urged caution in making judgments before the complex legal and security issues are fully addressed.
In this context, questions arose regarding the participation of the Iranian national team amid the ongoing tensions between Tehran and Washington. However, the team ultimately secured its presence at the finals, which FIFA considered evidence of the ability of sports to transcend political obstacles when the necessary will is present.
These political issues accompany another discussion regarding the close relationship between Infantino and U.S. President Donald Trump, a relationship that has faced repeated criticism over the past years. However, the FIFA president believes that direct cooperation with U.S. authorities has been a key factor in the success of logistical and organizational preparations for the tournament.
Trump announced on Wednesday his intention to attend several World Cup matches, asserting that the tournament represents an exceptional event for the United States and the entire American continent, without revealing additional details about the matches he plans to watch.
On the pure sports front, the Mexican national team enters the tournament under the pressure of high public expectations, as Mexico has never won an opening match in World Cup history despite having played this type of match seven times before, a record that coach Javier Aguirre aims to change in the opening of the 2026 edition.
Aguirre confirmed that the players understand the importance of the event, not only because the match is being held on their home ground in front of their fans but also due to the historical symbolism associated with Azteca Stadium, adding that the Mexican national team has the opportunity to create a different start that could provide a significant morale boost for the rest of their journey in the tournament.
The South African team enters the match aware of the challenge that awaits them, as the stands of Azteca are expected to be filled with tens of thousands of Mexican fans, which Belgian coach Hugo Broos described as a "wall of noise" that his players will need to handle with calm and focus.
Broos stated that the atmosphere will be exceptional by all standards, but his team's success will depend on their ability to focus on the technical aspects and not get carried away by the pressures surrounding the opening match.
In the second match of the tournament's opening day, South Korea will face the Czech Republic in Guadalajara, in a match where both teams hope to achieve a positive start in the new edition of the World Cup.
Regarding the favorites to compete for the title, most betting companies place Spain, France, and England at the top of the list, based on the results these teams have achieved in recent years and the quality of the players in their ranks, while the Argentine team remains a strong presence as the defending champion.
The Argentine team is once again relying on its captain Lionel Messi, who is 38 years old, to lead the team on a new journey toward the final, in what may be his last World Cup appearance, adding an additional emotional dimension to the "Albiceleste's" campaign in this edition.
