World Cup kicks off in Mexico City
Key takeaways
- Co-hosts Mexico and South Africa kick off the largest World Cup ever in Mexico City.
- Mexico vs South Africa is the one and only fixture taking place on opening day, one arguably rare example of a World Cup tradition that has endured for the first ever competition involving 48 teams.
- The teams came onto the pitch to cheers from the sellout crowd almost an hour before kickoff was scheduled.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Co-hosts Mexico and South Africa kick off the largest World Cup ever in Mexico City. The opening ceremony is underway in the renowned Estadio Azteca. It marks the start of 39 days of action across three countries.
https://p.dw.com/p/5FEKKImage: David Leah/firo Sportphoto/picture alliance Advertisement The World Cup opening ceremony began at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on Thursday, marking the countdown to the opening group game between Mexico and South Africa.
Latin music and dance numbers gravitated around a massive model of the World Cup trophy in the center of the pitch, ahead of 104 matches over the next 39 days, building to the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19.