2026 World Cup Kicks Off: Your Complete Guide to Today's Games
Hızlı Bakış
- The 2026 World Cup begins today at Estadio Azteca with Mexico vs.
- South Africa, followed by South Korea vs.
- 48 teams will compete in 104 matches across 16 host cities in three countries until July 19.
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The 2026 World Cup begins today, 1,271 days after Argentina won the previous tournament in Qatar. The event will feature 48 teams playing 104 matches across 16 host cities in three countries until July 19.
Here we go again. 1,271 days since Lionel Messi and Argentina got their hands on international soccer’s biggest prize in Qatar, the 2026 World Cup is upon us and it all kicks off at the fabled Estadio Azteca today.
Mexico take on South Africa in a rematch of the 2010 World Cup curtain raiser, albeit with the hosting roles reversed, before South Korea and Czechia start their campaign in Guadalajara.
Between now and 19 July, 48 teams will contest a grand total of 104 matches across 16 host cities in three different countries and it all starts here.
Here is your complete guide on how to watch today’s World Cup games, including kick-off times, broadcast networks, and online streaming options.
Complete guide to all the players
A visual guide to every stadium
Standings
Golden Boot leaders
Mexico v South Africa
Time (ET): 3pm
Stadium: Mexico City Stadium
How to watch
United States: FOX (Stream on Fubo)
Canada: CTV / TSN (Stream)
United Kingdom: BBC / ITV (Stream)
Australia: SBS (Stream)
Follow along with the Guardian’s live blog
What to watch for
World Cup openers live long in the memory. Everyone remembers Siphiwe Tshabalala’s stunner for South Africa to raise the curtain on the 2010 tournament, for example, or Senegal’s shock win over defending champions France in 2002.
No matter what happens at the Azteca today, it will go down in World Cup lore, although Mexico hopes it will be a home victory for the co-hosts that is recorded in the history books.
El Tri enter Thursday’s opener on an eight-game unbeaten run that has boosted hope that Javier Aguirre’s team may be peaking at the right time. South Africa, meanwhile, boast a core of players that recently became continental champions at Mamelodi Sundowns.
Player to watch: Brian Gutierrez, Mexico – Had things gone a little differently, ‘Guti’ could have been part of Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT squad for this tournament. Instead, the 22-year-old will be one of Mexico’s primary creative threats in the final third.
What to read
South Africa team guide
Mexico team guide
South Korea v Czechia
Time (ET): 10pm
Stadium: Guadalajara Stadium
How to watch
United States: FS1 (Stream on Fubo)
Canada: TSN (Stream)
United Kingdom: BBC / ITV (Stream)
Australia: SBS (Stream)
Follow along with the Guardian’s live blog
What to watch for
South Korea and Czechia meet in Guadalajara in a match that could have a big bearing on both teams’ chances of making it out of the group and into the knockout rounds.
Indeed, the new format means three points would effectively put either side on the brink of qualification with the eight best-ranked third-place teams going through to the round of 32.
Optimism is in short supply for South Korea as doubts linger over manager Hong Myung-bo’s formation and the form of key players. Czechia, meanwhile, may still be riding the high of their playoff penalty shootout victory over the Republic of Ireland to qualify.
Player to watch: Son Heung-min, South Korea – If South Korea are to stand any chance of a positive result to open their World Cup, they need Son in top form. He remains their greatest goal threat and most accomplished player.
What to read
South Korea team guide
Czechia team guide
Some streaming links in this article were provided by the Guardian’s advertising partner, FuboTV.
Açık Sorular
- How will the new format impact team qualification?
- Will Mexico's unbeaten run translate into a strong performance?
- Can South Korea overcome doubts about their manager and player form?
- What will be the standout moments of the opening matches?
