The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, kicks off today.
For the first time in history, a World Cup featuring 48 teams promises football fans a magnificent tournament consisting of 104 matches.
The opening game will be held between Mexico and South Africa. The match, held in Mexico City, will start at 23:00 Baku time.
The tournament will conclude with the final match played on July 19 at MetLife Stadium.
At the World Cup, teams are divided into 12 groups. Along with the teams placing first and second in each group, the best eight teams placing third will also advance to the playoff stage.
At the tournament, the reigning world champion Lionel Messi will attempt to win his second consecutive title. For Cristiano Ronaldo, this World Cup is expected to be the last in his career.
New rules approved by the International Football Association Board will also come into effect during the tournament.
According to the innovations, time limits will be imposed on penalty kicks and throw-ins, substitutions must be carried out more quickly, the authority of the VAR system will be expanded, and stricter penalties may be applied for protests against referee decisions and unsportsmanlike behavior. Ahead of the tournament, the visa problems faced by the delegations of some participating countries have sparked discussions. In particular, it is reported that the Iranian national team has moved its training camp to Mexico due to some team members not being granted visas.
Despite all this, the biggest event in the football world will be the focus of millions of fans, with the pulse of world football beating in North America.
It should be noted that the majority of matches at the World Cup will start in the pre-dawn and morning hours according to Baku time. Therefore, football fans will wake up in the mornings and watch the games for a month and a half./“Qafqazinfo”