The countdown to the biggest event in football, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has ended, and the opening whistle will blow tonight. The grand tournament, co-hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada, will kick off with the match between Mexico and South Africa.
The opening game will take place at the 83,000-capacity Mexico City Stadium at 22:00 TRT. The match will be broadcast live on TRT 1. This first game also recalls the opening match of the 2010 World Cup held in South Africa 16 years ago, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
New 48-Team Format Takes the Stage
The 2026 World Cup will be played for the first time in history with 12 groups and 48 teams. Each team will play three matches in the group stage. The top two teams from each group will advance directly to the round of 32, while the best third-placed teams will also have a chance to continue.
A total of 104 matches will be played throughout the tournament. Matches will be held in 16 different stadiums across the three host countries. The largest stadium is the 94,000-seat Dallas Stadium, while the smallest venue is the 45,000-seat stadium in Toronto.
Final at New York New Jersey Stadium
The tournament final will be held on Sunday, July 19, at the New York New Jersey Stadium. The event brings together many countries from different continents, with several teams making their debut in the tournament.
Curaçao, Uzbekistan, Jordan, and Cape Verde will appear in the World Cup for the first time. Europe will be the continent with the most teams represented in the tournament.
Shakira, Burna Boy, and a Spectacular Opening Show
The opening ceremony at Mexico City Stadium will host a grand show before the match. Shakira and Burna Boy will perform "Dai Dai," the official song of the tournament.
Also performing on the same stage will be Alejandro Fernandez, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Angeles Azules, Mana, and Tyla. For the final match, it has been announced that Shakira, Madonna, and BTS will deliver a Super Bowl-style halftime show.
Turkey Returns to the Tournament After 24 Years
Turkey, which finished third in the 2002 World Cup, will participate in the tournament again after 24 years. The national team will face the USA, Australia, and Paraguay in Group D.
The matches in Group D will be among the most closely watched aspects of the tournament for Turkey. The national team's performance in the group stage will be followed closely by both the sports community and fans.
High Economic Expectations for the Tournament
FIFA expects the revenue from the 2026 World Cup to reach 11 billion dollars, up from 7 billion dollars earned at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. The last tournament in Qatar was the highest-scoring World Cup in history with 172 goals.
Brazil holds the record for the most championships with five titles, while Miroslav Klose is the top scorer with 16 goals. The first top scorer was Argentine Guillermo Stabile, who scored 8 goals.
Argentina won the last tournament by defeating France on penalties. The 2026 World Cup will open a new chapter in the football calendar with its new format and expanded participation.
