World Cup 2026 Begins Today: Complete June 11 Viewing Guide

The wait is finally over.

Today, Thursday, June 11, 2026, the FIFA World Cup officially kicks off across North America, marking the beginning of the largest World Cup ever staged. For the next 39 days, the United States, Mexico, and Canada will welcome the world as 48 nations battle across 104 matches for soccer’s biggest prize.

While the United States won’t play its first match until Friday, June 12, today’s opening festivities in Mexico City officially launch what is expected to become the most-watched sporting event in history.

Today’s Main Event

Opening Ceremony

Time: Approximately 1:30 p.m. ET

Location: Estadio Azteca

The iconic stadium becomes the first venue in history to host three World Cup opening matches. Fans can expect a massive celebration featuring music, culture, dance, and performances from global stars including Shakira, Burna Boy, J Balvin, Maná, Tyla, Los Ángeles Azules, and Alejandro Fernández.

Opening Match

Mexico vs. South Africa

Kickoff: 3:00 p.m. ET

TV: FOX

Streaming: Fubo and FOX Sports platforms

Host nation Mexico gets the honor of opening the tournament in front of a packed home crowd.

Late-Night Match

South Korea vs. Czechia

Kickoff: 10:00 p.m. ET

TV: FS1

This serves as the second match of the tournament and gives fans a first look at another group-stage showdown.

What Every American Should Watch This Weekend

Even if you’re not a hardcore soccer fan, several storylines make this World Cup unique:

Lionel Messi’s Final World Cup?

Lionel Messi returns as defending champion and could be making his sixth and final World Cup appearance.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Last Ride

Cristiano Ronaldo is also competing in what many expect to be his final World Cup tournament.

Team USA’s Home Tournament

The United States opens Friday in Los Angeles against Paraguay as millions of Americans experience World Cup fever on home soil for the first time since 1994.

The Largest World Cup Ever

For the first time, 48 teams will compete, creating more upsets, more matches, and more global storylines than ever before.

Major U.S. City Celebration Guide

Across America, cities are turning into giant soccer festivals.

New York City / New Jersey

MetLife Stadium will host the World Cup Final on July 19.

Fans can gather at:

Rockefeller Center watch parties
Queens fan festivals
Sports Illustrated Stadium events
Bronx and Staten Island community fan zones
Central Park viewing experiences

The region will host eight matches including the championship game.

Dallas-Fort Worth

The Metroplex is expected to become one of the busiest World Cup destinations in America.

Key areas expected to draw huge crowds include:

Arlington Entertainment District
Downtown Dallas watch parties
Legacy West viewing events
Frisco soccer celebrations
Fort Worth sports bars and public viewing areas

North Texas will welcome fans from around the globe as one of the tournament’s premier host regions.

Kansas City

National WWI Museum and Memorial hosts the official FIFA Fan Festival.

Highlights include:

Giant outdoor viewing screens
Live entertainment
Local food vendors
Tech N9ne concert
The Chainsmokers performance
Flo Rida appearance

The festival runs from June 11 through July 11.

Los Angeles

The city’s World Cup celebration begins today.

Featured locations include:

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Fan Festival
Union Station fan experiences
Venice Beach soccer celebrations
Farmers Market viewing events
Downtown LA watch parties

The U.S. opening ceremony takes place Friday before Team USA’s first match.

Seattle

Seattle launches four free fan celebration venues today:

Seattle Center
Waterfront Park
Pacific Place
Victory Hall

All locations are free and open to the public throughout the tournament.

Miami

The city’s international soccer culture makes it one of the hottest World Cup destinations.

Expect:

Massive watch parties in Brickell
Wynwood soccer festivals
Miami Beach viewing events
International fan gatherings representing dozens of nations

Atlanta

Home of one of the world’s busiest airports, Atlanta is preparing for massive crowds.

Popular gathering spots include:

Centennial Olympic Park
The Battery Atlanta
Midtown watch parties
Downtown soccer festivals

Philadelphia

Philadelphia’s soccer culture continues to grow, and city officials expect huge turnout for public viewing events throughout Center City and surrounding neighborhoods.

Boston

Historic pubs and downtown gathering areas will become soccer headquarters as fans fill the city for match screenings.

Houston

Houston’s diverse international population makes it one of America’s most vibrant World Cup destinations.

Expect large celebrations in:

Downtown Houston
Discovery Green
EaDo District
Soccer-specific fan zones

The Bottom Line

Today marks more than just the start of a tournament.

It is the beginning of a month-long celebration that will bring together millions of fans across North America. Whether you’re watching from a packed fan festival in Kansas City, a sports bar in Fort Worth, a public plaza in New York, or your living room, the world’s game has officially arrived.

By the time the final whistle blows on July 19 in New Jersey, North America will have hosted the biggest sporting event ever staged on the continent. Today is where that journey begins. ⚽🌎🏆

Kickoff: Mexico vs. South Africa — 3:00 p.m. ET on FOX.