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DIRECT. 2026 World Cup: the 48-team World Cup begins with Mexico-South Africa in the opening match at 9 p.m.

12 June، 2026

PubliÃ© on 11/06/2026 05:58

Mis Ã jour on 12/06/2026 00:05

The Mexicans celebrate the first goal of the World Cup on June 11, 2026 in Mexico City against South Africa. (YURI CORTEZ / AFP)

The event organized in the United States, Canada and Mexico began in Mexico City, against a backdrop of controversy surrounding American migration policy.

What you need to know

This live is now over.

The first 48-team World Cup in history began Thursday June 11 in Mexico City, with the opening match between Mexico and South Africa. The Mexicans got their World Cup off to a perfect start by winning 2-0, in a match marked by three red cards. The meeting in Mexico was preceded by an opening ceremony in which Shakira and Burna Boy participated, under the eyes of the much contested president of Fifa, Gianni Infantino, and the president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum.

The World Cup of Gigantism. Forty-eight teams, 104 matches and three countries: this World Cup promises to be one of excess, like the United States. The tournament will be played for the first time in 16 stadiums, some 4,000 kilometers apart, in a format criticized for its carbon footprint. This World Cup will also see the appearance of refreshment breaks during each period, which will also make it possible to broadcast very lucrative advertising spots.

A competition already marked by controversies. The ban on the entry into American territory of Somali referee Omar Artan, who was to officiate during the World Cup, provoked numerous indignant reactions, particularly in Africa. The start of the competition was also marked by visas refused for members of the Iranian delegation or extensive searches for certain teams (Senegal or Uzbekistan).
The Blues have arrived in Boston. The French team, which will begin its competition against Senegal on June 16 in New York, arrived on Wednesday in Boston, where it is based. Kylian Mbappé and his teammates will train for the first time Thursday afternoon during a session open to the public.
The World Cup program. South Korea and the Czech Republic will face off on the night of Thursday to Friday (4 a.m.), before Group B and C matches on Friday and Saturday, including an enticing Brazil-Morocco (midnight). Here is the World Cup program.

#FOOT In Orléans, the tone is rising around the broadcast of World Cup matches. During the General Assembly of the Union of Hotel and Catering Trades of Loiret (UMIH 45) on Monday, Mayor Serge Grouard said he was in favor of banning giant screens in the city, but a potential ban on broadcasting matches on terraces for restaurateurs. The town hall justifies this position by the recent excesses on the sidelines of PSG’s victory in the Champions League, but the restaurateurs are up in arms, described France 3 Centre-Val de Loire.
#FOOT In Mexico, where the opening match of the 2026 World Cup took place, a feminist section was created in the stadiums. Every weekend, up to a hundred fans come, no matter who the team is playing: the objective is to reclaim the space and enjoy a moment of football.
#FOOT The President of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, announces a 20% drop in the price of beer, the most popular alcoholic drink in his country, during the World Cup. The measure also applies to wine.
#FOOT Does Mexico have a chance of winning the World Cup?

Paolo Philippe

franceinfo 0 seconds ago

Honestly? Not really, or a very small chance. South Africa offered very weak opposition, and the matches against South Korea and the Czech Republic, Mexico’s next opponents, will be a bigger tell. On the other hand, El Tri’s victory allows it to take a big step towards the round of 16 with the new formula and the best third qualifiers.
#FOOT Has this ever happened in a World Cup opening match where 3 red cards were shown?

Paolo Philippe

franceinfo 0 seconds ago

This is a good question, which I just asked myself. That doesn’t mean anything to me, however, it’s not the record for a match. For example, there were four red cards during Netherlands-Portugalin 2006.
franceinfo alert

0 seconds ago

#FOOT Mexico launches its World Cup perfectly against South Africa (2-0), opening in Mexico.
#FOOT Red card duel! The Mexican Cesar Montes receives the third red card of the match.
#FOOT South Africa will finish the match at 9. After Sphephelo Sithole is Themba Zwane who receives a red card.
#FOOT The Iranian team, whose participation in the Football World Cup in North America is disrupted by the war, trained in a small group during its first session briefly open to the press. Of the 26 members of “Team Melli”, only a dozen players were present during the fifteen minutes open to journalists.
#FOOT The Blues discovered their training center, in the suburbs of Boston, during their first session under crushing heat. Which surprised Maxence Lacroix, who arrived on the field in long sleeves, reports Andréa La Perna, our special envoy to the France team.