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Founded in May 1904 in Paris, the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), over the year has continued despite wars and whatnot, and now boasts 211 members, rivalling that of the United Nations. The game is arguably the most watched and followed in the world.
Occurring every four years, the FIFA World Cup 2026 is by far the largest one with 48 countries competing for the cup along a span of 104 matches.
This year, FIFA is being hosted in a collaboration of three countries, namely, Mexico, Canada and the United States. The debut match is slated to be played between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City on 11 June. The culmination of the tournament, the final match, will be held in the state of New Jersey in the US on July 19.
For the 39 days that it is supposed to last, FIFA is in reception of charged emotions, soaring expectations, unmatched fandom, bitter disappointments, and above all, collective euphoria that ripples across masses much like the Mexican wave.
While there will be time for the first match to see its kick-off whistle, the opening ceremony will already be in action.
True to its previous form, FIFA has a sensational opening celebration full of music, dance, culture and entertainment on the cards. What's more, there will not be one but three opening ceremonies, one in each of the hosting countries.
The first opening ceremony will take place in Mexico at the iconic Estadio Azteca. The ceremony is set to glitter with some of the biggest names of the music industry. With a long, musical history with FIFA, enshrined in the global tune of “Waka waka!,” Shakira will once again be the star attraction of the ceremony in Mexico. Headlining the show, she will be performing “Dai Dai,” the tournament's official song, alongside Nigerian artist Burna Boy.
In addition, South African musician Tyla and Colombian singer J Balvin are also part of the Mexican opening ceremony line-up. Mexican singers such as Alejandro Fernandez, Lila Downs and Belinda are also set to add to the charm. Other names such as Danny Ocean and Mexican pop band Mana and the musical set Los Angeles Azules will also bring their talent to the event.
Meanwhile, Canada's pre-match ceremony in Toronto will include lively performances by Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara, Elyanna, Jessie Reyez, Michael Buble, Nora Fatehi, Sanjoy, Vegedream and William Prince.
The US ceremony in Los Angeles, on the other hand, is expected to deliver a Hollywood-style production featuring actor Salma Hayek Pinault as one of FIFA World Cup 2026's ambassadors during the ceremony before the US football team faces Paraguay in its opening match.
As the tournament is taking place in three different countries, a variation of time zones is part of the binge. Fans from all over the world will have to keep a close watch and track the timings in order not to miss their awaited bits of the tournament.
India: June 11, 10:30 PM IST
UK: June 11, 6:00 PM BST
USA (ET): June 11, 1:00 PM ET
Brazil: June 11, 2:00 PM BRT
Saudi Arabia: June 11, 8:30 PM AST
India: June 12, 11:00 PM IST
UK: June 12, 6:30 PM BST
USA (ET): June 12, 1:30 PM ET
Brazil: June 12, 2:30 PM BRT
Saudi Arabia: June 12, 9:00 PM AST
India: June 13, 5:00 AM IST
UK: June 13, 12:30 AM BST
USA (ET): June 12, 7:30 PM ET
Brazil: June 12, 8:30 PM BRT
Saudi Arabia: June 13, 3:00 AM AST
The football fans in India can witness the live broadcast in all its glory on Unite8 Sports television channels that include Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD, Unite8 Sports 2 and Unite8 Sports 2 HD.
In addition, the programme will also be available as a live stream on Zee5 through its website and mobile application.
According to reports, the FIFA World Cup 2026 is expected to attract a whopping six million fans to the stadiums, with an unprecedented six billion viewers engaging with the tournament across various platforms, including streaming services and television broadcasts.