Sport: Soccer Country: Canada Category: Playoffs

World Cup opens in 16 cities across North America with 48 teams

The Guardian Sport • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 15, 2026, 9:50 AM

Last updated Jun 15, 2026

World Cup opens in 16 cities across North America with 48 teams

Summary

The World Cup kicked off in 2026 with the opening game between Mexico and South Africa. This tournament features 48 teams competing in 104 matches over 39 days, hosted in various cities across Mexico, Canada, and the U.S. Residents in these host cities are invited to share their experiences as part of a series reflecting on the event's local impact. The diverse nature of the tournament is expected to produce varying atmospheres depending on the location.

Source Links

The Guardian Sport

Key Details

•Opening match featured Mexico against South Africa
•48 teams competing over 39 days in 16 host cities
•Residents encouraged to share local experiences during the event
•Tournament includes 104 matches throughout its duration

Latest Updates

9:50 AMThe Guardian Sport — What’s it like to be in a World Cup host city? We’d love to hear your stories

What they're saying

"
If you live in one of the 16 cities in Mexico, Canada and the US hosting games, we would be delighted to hear from you My World Cup: voices from the host cities The game between Mexico and South Africa on Thursday kicked off the biggest World Cup in history: 48 teams playing 104 matches over 39 days in 16 host cities. If you live in one of those cities, we want to hear from you. How’s it going so far? This is a diverse tournament, with a different feel and vibe across the various countries and venues. With that in mind, we want to know what the mood is like in your home city during the tournament, as part of our My World Cup series. Continue reading...
— The Guardian Sportby Guardian community team

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