A billion-dollar show: how the historic 2026 World Cup opened (2 photos + 6 videos)
The 23rd FIFA World Cup officially kicked off at the legendary Estadio Azteca in Mexico. This tournament has already gone down in history as the most ambitious and largest ever. 
For the first time in history, the World Cup is being hosted by three countries – the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The football marathon will run from June 11 to July 19, during which 48 teams from around the world will play a record 104 matches.
The honor of opening the tournament fell to the national teams of Mexico and South Africa, who met in their first match at the Azteca field.
The opening ceremony matched the scale of the tournament itself – bright, loud, and at times quite unexpected. The inimitable Salma Hayek led the entire parade, serving as the show's host. A veritable carnival unfolded before the packed stands, bringing together the world's leading music and pop culture stars.
The main surprise of the evening was the performance of the tournament's official song. The organizers decided to combine fire and ice: iconic Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli sang a duet with American rapper Megan Thee Stallion. Until the very end, the stadium and TV audience couldn't understand how classical vocals would coexist with a hard hip-hop beat, but the collaboration blew the crowd away.
Following them, legendary French DJ David Guetta raised the spirits with a powerful electronic set right in the stadium bowl. Singer Ejae and the acknowledged queen of football anthems, Shakira, a fixture at virtually every major World Cup, also thrilled the crowd with their performances.
The event also featured contemporary trends that Zoomers will definitely appreciate. Alongside the A-listers, the now-ultra-popular Laboubu monster mascots rocked the stage.
The madness and fun were off the charts, giving this summer's main sporting event a powerful and energetic start. We'll be watching the matches!
