FIFA World Cup 2026

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Summary

The latest news and action from the celebrated football tournament from the ITV team.

Episode 1: FIFA World Cup 2026: Opening Ceremony

Summary

Mark Pougatch presents coverage of the first of three opening ceremonies, which comes from Mexico City Stadium ahead of the first game of the tournament, and includes performances by Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin and South African singer-songwriter Tyla. As befits a tournament in which many aspects will feel different, three host nations mean three opening ceremonies, with ones to follow in Toronto and Los Angeles tomorrow. There's also a look ahead to the competition, as well a focus on the match between Mexico and South Africa, which will be the first of 104 in a marathon event. With analysis from Ian Wright, Roy Keane and Gary Neville

Review

Gabriel Tate

Baby Love. Upside Down. Missing a Penalty in the USA 94 Opening Ceremony. Diana Ross may be one of the musical greats, but her scuffed spot kick in front of an estimated 750 million viewers got a brilliant tournament off to a wonderfully farcical start. For all Fifa’s decade-old dodginess, these were innocent times; numerous claims of corruption within the association have since cast dark shadows across the greatest event in world football.

Although we should probably brace ourselves for talk of unity, peace and the global family from Fifa president Gianni Infantino, perhaps some of that can be overlooked tonight as Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin, South African singer/songwriter Tyla and Mexico’s mariachi-inspired pop icon Alejandro Fernández (the latter pair representing the nations whose match will be the first of 104 over the next few weeks) get proceedings under way in Mexico City. Co-hosts Canada and the USA throw their own launch parties tomorrow with Michael Bublé and Alanis Morissette, and Katy Perry and Future. The first match – Mexico v South Africa – follows on ITV1 at 8pm.