Overview
- The opening ceremony at the Estadio Azteca and the inaugural match between Mexico and South Africa took place on Thursday, June 11, starting with the show 90 minutes before kickoff.
- Organizers staged a star‑studded Mexican program that featured performers such as Shakira, Alejandro Fernández, J Balvin, Burna Boy, Maná, Los Ángeles Azules, Belinda, Lila Downs and Tyla.
- Viewers can follow the tournament through multiple platforms: free‑to‑air Canal 9 (Nu9ve) and ViX in Mexico, Telemundo and Peacock in Spanish in the U.S., FOX and FOX One in English, and regional pay services such as DIRECTV/DSports.
- Cities and institutions opened public fan spaces and promotions to broaden access, including Tlajomulco’s Tlajo Fut Fest limited to 1,000 people per day and a Guadalajara zoo enrichment activity that used animals to 'predict' matches as part of public programming.
- Authorities deployed heightened security around the Azteca after social groups announced mobilizations, and the tournament’s scale has raised practical concerns for fans over ticket prices and visas as the three‑nation event begins.