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Overview
- The tournament, which opened Thursday, June 11, at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca, began with Mexico beating South Africa 2–0 and Julián Quiñones scoring the first goal of the competition.
- High‑profile entry refusals have already affected participants and fans, including the refoulement of Somali referee Omar Artan and reported U.S. visa denials that left Ivory Coast and Senegal without official supporter delegations.
- U.S. authorities have mobilized unprecedented security resources for the event, with organizers and officials citing more than $1 billion in spending and roughly $500 million devoted to anti‑drone measures.
- The expanded format and three‑host layout create major operational strain, with matches spread over 16 stadiums and thousands of kilometres of travel that increase logistics for teams, officials and broadcasters.
- Ceremonies and concerts have highlighted the festival side of the Cup while teams settle into camps — France is based in Boston — and human‑rights and press‑freedom concerns continue to shape diplomatic and public scrutiny.