World Cup 2026 live: Mexico’s opening ceremony just hours away as tournament officially kicks off

The issues in the US are well-documented but fellow co-host Mexico is also dealing with problems.

Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets around the Estadio Azteca in the days leading up to the country’s World Cup opener against South Africa.

There have been ongoing teacher protests in the Mexican capital and, on Tuesday, demonstrations were led by a breakaway group of the CNTE union, demanding a salary raise and the reversal of a pension law.

Then last night, families of “the disappeared” came out to draw attention to the 133,000 missing people in Mexico, with volunteers handing out leaflets concluding with the message: “The cup came back home. When will our loved ones?”

Months before World Cup 2026 got underway, senior figures within Fifa already found the planning hadn’t been going “as expected”. And that’s saying something. When the hosting of Canada–Mexico–USA was confirmed back in 2018, after all, the widespread feeling in football circles was that it was a return to the “familiar”.

Two of the countries had already hosted three of the most successful World Cups of all, and the promise in the bid-book was that this would be “low-risk and operational certainty”. It of course greatly aided such feelings that another promise was about record revenue projections of $14bn.

Ian Wright

Gary Neville

Patrick Vieira

Karen Carney

Ange Postecoglou

Emma Hayes

Duncan Ferguson

Jobi McAnuff

Bradley Wright-Phillips

Christina Unkel

Presenters

Mark Pougatch

Laura Woods

Semra Hunter

Daniyal Khan

Alan Shearer

Wayne Rooney

Micah Richards

Paul Robinson

Steph Houghton

Ellen White

Danny Murphy.

Scott Brown

Rachel Corsie

James McFadden

Olivier Giroud

Gael Clichy

Cesar Azpilicueta

Benni McCarthy

Ashley Williams

Thomas Frank

Darren Cann

Presenters

Kelly Cates

Mark Chapman

Gabby Logan

Alex Scott

Kelly Somers

Eilidh Barbour

Jamie Carragher has expressed concerns that Jude Bellingham’s role within the England squad at the upcoming World Cup could “dominate airwaves” throughout the summer tournament.

“I don’t think Jude Bellingham’s going to start the first game, I’d be surprised if he does,” Carragher stated on The Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast on Wednesday.

“He hasn’t had a great season, he’s had his injuries but I think that will be really interesting to see how the tournament goes on. That dynamic between Thomas Tuchel and Jude Bellingham, whether he gets in the team and if he’s not in the team what happens. I think that is going to dominate airwaves all summer.”

The Fifa president looks excited. The hand is often extended from the heart, in that classic gesture of the evangelising Blair-like statesman. Trump smiles on, two leaders together. Those who have been close to such meetings say it is a mix of “fawning and adoration” from Infantino, which is also why there is increasing disquiet among numerous senior Fifa figures. They don’t like how this has been going.

The relationship is one of a few areas where even someone as brazen as Infantino might now be caught in a bind.

Miguel Delaney reports:

More managerial news back home…

Martin O’Neill has signed a new one-year contract as Celtic manager, with an option for a further season.

The 74-year-old returned to Celtic Park twice last season, leading the Hoops to a league and Scottish Cup double.

O’Neill, who returned to Celtic Park twice last campaign, expressed his privilege.

He told Celtic’s official website: “It is once again a great privilege for me to continue as Celtic manager. Last season will live long in all our memories and to be part of that success has in a big way whetted the appetite to work again for more days like those and bring our supporters those moments.”

Folarin Balogun’s decision to represent the United States rather than England or Nigeria is poised to pay significant dividends as the striker prepares for a home World Cup.

His choice, made three years ago, was driven by the clear opportunity to become a central figure for the American squad, a role he might not have secured with the Three Lions, where he would have contended with established talents like Harry Kane and Ollie Watkins.

Balogun, who came through Arsenal’s academy as he grew up in England and began his international career at the under-21 level for the nation, also considered playing for his parents’ Nigeria.

Somali referee Omar Artan, who was barred from entering the United States to officiate at the World Cup, has been picked as the referee for the Uefa Super Cup in August.

Artan will oversee the match between Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and Europa League champions Aston Villa.

More embarrassment for Fifa.

Czech Republic

They entered the play-offs in supposed shambles but arrive at the World Cup with a newly-acquired sense of fortitude. Miroslav Koubek, 74, was installed as head coach following a dire group campaign that ended with Tomas Soucek stripped of the captaincy because of a row with fans. They started awfully against Ireland in their semi-final, too, only to be gifted a penalty when two goals down, eventually progressing to a final with Denmark via penalties.

The Danes dominated that encounter, peppering the Czech goal in a game that again ended with a shootout. Again, they were flawless from the spot and from an unlikely position seem to have developed a bloody-mindedness that overwrites the absence of coherent, attacking football.

This is a squad packed with familiar names; mostly because they have been around for so long. Having qualified for all eight European Championships since the break up of Czechoslovakia, this is just a second World Cup appearance and their 2006 tournament ended in the group stage. Making it to a maiden knockout tie would be progress for a team whose presence appeared doubtful more than once.

Star player – Patrick Schick, Bayer Leverkusen: The attack leans upon the 30-year-old, who is averaging a little under a goal every two caps and is destined to be remembered for that long-range striker against Scotland at Euro 2020. Tomas Chory, of Slavia Prague, looked way off it when leading the line against Ireland in March, while Schick operated slightly behind, and it would be a surprise if Koubek persists with that system here. Schick managed 16 Bundesliga goals as Leverkusen faded down to sixth – a still creditable return.

Breakout talent – Ladislav Krejci, Wolves: When a squad is this packed with old hands, it is impossible to name a breakout star in its strictest meaning but Krejci, one of the bright spots for relegated Wolves, is one whose stock beyond the Black Country could rise considerably. Captain when Soucek was demoted in March, he was vital to the resurgence against Ireland and performs with an all-action style that is easy to get behind. His loan from Girona is expected to be made permanent by Wolves at the time of writing, despite their slip to the Championship, but he could prove that he is deserving of a top-tier place with a decent showing over the next couple of weeks.