The opening ceremony of the World Cup 2026 featured lively performances, including Shakira and Burna Boy, with the massive FIFA World Cup trophy prominently displayed. Yet, I found myself frequently asking my children, ‘Who’s that?’ as they too were unfamiliar with much of the music. Thankfully, Alexis Petridis from the Guardian provided insights on the local talent showcased in the ceremony.
However, Mexico’s celebratory start to the tournament was marred by violent incidents outside the Azteca Stadium. Clashes erupted as ticketless fans and protesters attempted to breach security, resulting in rocks and bottles being hurled at police. Reports indicate that several arrests were made during the chaos.
Questions arose regarding the official attendance figures for the match between South Korea and Czechia. FIFA announced an attendance of 44,985 at the Guadalajara stadium, yet many observed numerous empty seats, raising alarms about ticket prices and the demand for the expanded tournament.
In contrast, over 80,000 fans filled the Azteca stadium for the opening match featuring co-hosts Mexico and South Africa. The sight of vacant rows in the 46,000-seat venue in Guadalajara, a city known for its rich football culture, has sparked further criticism of FIFA’s commercial strategy for the inaugural 48-team World Cup.
Attendees at the Guadalajara match attributed the empty seats to the steep ticket prices and expressed dissatisfaction with FIFA’s pricing model. FIFA President Gianni Infantino addressed these concerns on Wednesday, stating that the ticket costs were comparable to those of other major sporting events.
With more than six million tickets sold for the tournament, FIFA previously emphasized significant interest from across the Americas. Infantino claimed that demand surpassed expectations by “a factor of 10 or more“. However, groups such as Football Supporters Europe (FSE) had warned that “extortionate”
Yet, organizations like Football Supporters Europe (FSE) cautioned that the “extortionate” prices would alienate average fans. According to FSE, ticket costs for this event have increased fivefold compared to the 2022 World Cup held in Qatar.
In match reports, the opening game saw more red cards than goals, while South Korea staged a thrilling comeback against Czechia.
Mexico triumphed 2-0 over South Africa, as reported by Jonathan Wilson from the Azteca. Meanwhile, South Korea secured a 2-1 victory against Czechia in Guadalajara.
With two matches completed, there are still 102 more to go! Fans of Mexico and South Korea have reason to celebrate, while supporters of South Africa and Czechia face disappointment. Even with limited data available, statistics are circulating online, with one particularly striking detail being that the number of red cards in this World Cup is just one less than the total for Qatar 2022. Whether this trend continues remains to be seen.
As the tournament unfolds, day two features the other two co-hosts in action. Canada will face Bosnia & Herzegovina in Group B, while the USA will host Paraguay in Group D, with that match taking place in the early hours of Saturday for viewers in the UK. A round of applause is due for anyone who has followed the first two games in full.
With five goals scored, three red cards issued, an engaging opening ceremony, and much more to discuss, let’s dive into the details!
