By Mekonnen Almaw
The 23rd World Cup, the first in history to be hosted by three nations, kicks off tonight at 10:00 PM in Mexico, with the host country, Mexico, facing South Africa.
Mexico has not won any of the seven opening matches it has played in World Cup history. Interestingly, during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Mexico played its opening match against the very same host nation, ending in a 1-1 draw. Tonight’s match against that same African host nation is highly anticipated.
This World Cup will feature three opening ceremonies across the three host countries, with the first taking place tonight. The opening ceremony will feature Shakira and Burna Boy performing the official World Cup anthem, "Dai Dai," alongside other renowned artists.
It has been confirmed that Donald Trump will not be in attendance at this year's opening ceremony. While it is customary for leaders of host nations to attend opening matches—for instance, the Emir of Qatar attended in 2022, Vladimir Putin in 2018, and Dilma Rousseff in 2014—it has been announced that President Trump does not plan to attend the U.S. opening match, with other officials expected to attend in his place.
The United States will play its opening match tomorrow, Friday, at 4:00 AM (local time) against Paraguay.
This World Cup has already sparked controversy and debate, drawing significant criticism, to which both Trump and Infantino have responded. President Donald Trump stated that this tournament will be the best in history. "Infantino told me he has never seen such a successful tournament," Trump remarked. When asked about visa issues and other related challenges, he replied, "We are working hard to ensure only good people enter our country."
FIFA President Gianni Infantino held a press conference in Mexico last night. In his first meeting with journalists in three years, he declared, "This World Cup will break all records." Regarding the high demand for tickets, Infantino noted, "The demand for tickets for this year's World Cup is like nothing we have ever seen; it is ten times higher than previous tournaments."
When asked if he regrets awarding the hosting rights to the United States, Infantino responded, "Absolutely not. There is nothing I regret." Addressing the visa concerns, he added, "We cannot decide who the United States should or should not allow into its country."
Despite the organizers' optimism, the tournament—which continues to be heavily criticized by fans and participants—officially begins today. The opening match between Mexico and South Africa will take place at Mexico City Stadium at 10:00 PM. The match will be officiated by Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio. Following this opening game, South Korea will face the Czech Republic at 5:00 AM.
