Overview
- The tournament opened Thursday in Mexico City with Mexico facing South Africa at the Azteca, and police enforcing a 1.6‑kilometre security zone after teacher protests blocked stadium access.
- FIFA faces sharp criticism over ticket pricing, with some seats priced above $30,000 and several U.S. states probing possible price gouging.
- U.S. entry rules have drawn international attention after reported visa denials for some delegation members and a Somali referee, prompting public rebukes from FIFA and calls from the U.N. human rights commissioner.
- New match rules are in force that expand VAR review, require substitutions within ten seconds, require throw-ins and goal kicks within five seconds, mandate a short hydration pause each half, and impose a one‑minute off-field wait after on‑pitch treatment.
- Sports models and betting markets list Spain, France and England as the leading title favorites while the presence of veterans like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi fuels debate about fitness and tactics; locally, cities report infrastructure gains even as some venues and businesses declare selective boycotts.