The FIFA World Cup begins in Mexico City as co-hosts Mexico and South Africa take part in the tournament’s opening matches and ceremony. The opening ceremony is held at Estadio Azteca, a major venue in the Mexican capital. It launches a World Cup described as the largest in tournament history, which runs for 39 days and features matches across three countries. Coverage from multiple outlets highlights the start of competition with Mexico facing South Africa in the opening game. The New York Post also emphasizes that the opening festivities showcase a mix of star power and local culture, while Deutsche Welle focuses on the scale of the event and the start of the overall competition window. Together, the reports describe the same kickoff moment: Mexico City hosts the opening ceremony at Estadio Azteca, and the tournament’s first match pairs the co-host nation Mexico with South Africa. The World Cup then continues across the host countries over the following weeks.