Here we go! Full first-day schedule and highlights of the World Cup

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Papo na Colina

·11 Juni 2026

Here we go! Full first-day schedule and highlights of the World Cup

The wait for fans is finally over, and the 2026 World Cup is set to kick off this Thursday. The biggest national team tournament on the planet will officially begin at 4 p.m. Brasília time, with the standalone match between Mexico and South Africa. The opening clash, valid for the first round of Group A of the international competition, promises to bring the American continent to a standstill and mark the beginning of a football marathon over the coming weeks.

Before the ball starts rolling on the pitch, at 2:30 p.m., fans will be able to watch the first of the three opening ceremonies organized by FIFA, with one in each host country of the World Cup. The festive activities will take place at the iconic Azteca Stadium, located in the Mexican capital, with confirmed appearances by major musical acts such as Shakira, J Balvin, the band Maná, and singer Tyla. The Colombian artist shares with Nigerian singer Burna Boy the authorship of the hit “Dai Dai,” chosen by the organization as the official song of the current edition of the football tournament.

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Behind the scenes of the World Cup openings

The presence of the Colombian singer on the show’s main stage reinforces her strong connection with football fans and with the recent history of FIFA-organized world competitions. This will be the third official occasion in which the pop music star will actively take part in World Cup opening ceremonies, cementing her legacy as one of the great voices in the sport’s history after her success in past editions.

The organization’s strategy of splitting the opening shows among three different host cities aims to highlight the local culture of each partner country and decentralize fan celebrations. With the world’s attention focused on the capital of Mexico in the early hours of the day, the promise is of a memorable celebration to set the competitive tone for the national teams. News coverage and real-time tracking of the delegations through digital platforms promise to keep football lovers engaged throughout the entire sporting journey of this first month of competition.