A general view of the Mexico City stadium ahead of the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Felix)
MEXICO CITY (AP) — A star-studded opening ceremony featuring Shakira, Burna Boy and J Balvin kicked off the 2026 World Cup before a crowd of more than 80,000 at the revamped Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. Mexico opened the 48-team tournament against South Africa, while South Korea faced Czechia in the other opening-day match, as the competition began amid escalating protests and social tensions in the capital.
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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Mexico’s Raul Jimenez celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)Fher Olvera, lead singer of Mexican pop rock band Mana performs before the start of the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)Shakira performs during the opening ceremony before the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)Performers on the pitch during the opening ceremony before the start of the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)Colombian singer J Balvin performs before the start of the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)Relatives of Mexico’s disappeared and protesters march before the opening day of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Alejandro Cegarra)Police officers block a street to the stadium ahead of the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)Demonstrators perform during a march protesting prior to the opening day of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)A Mexico fan is tossed into the air in celebration at a fan festival while waiting to watch a broadcast of the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashtin Barker)Andrea Bocelli and South Korean singer EJAE perform during the opening ceremony before the start of the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)Performers take part in the openinig ceremony before the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. ((AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)Law enforcement guard a barricade as fans funnel their way through to a fan festival area to watch the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashtin Barker)Performers on the pitch during the opening ceremony before the start of the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. CORRECTS DATE FROM SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 2026 TO THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)Mexican fans cheer before the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. ((AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)South Africa’s Nkosinathi Sibisi, right, and Mexico’s Raul Jimenez battle for the ball in the second half during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)Mexico’s Julian Quinones scores his side’s opening goal during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)Mexico’s Julian Quinones, left, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)Referee Wilton Sampaio a red card to South Africa’s Sphephelo Sithole, left, during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)Mexico’s Raul Jimenez hugs teammate Roberto Alvarado, right, after scoring his side’s second goal during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre gestures during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)South Korean fans react ahead of the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Korea and Czechia in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)South Korea’s Lee Han-beom plays at the ball during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Korea and Czechia in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)South Korea’s Lee Jae-sung, center, heads the ball against Czechia’s Tomas Soucek (22) and Pavel Sulc (15) during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Korea and Czechia in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)Czechia’s Ladislav Krejci, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s first goal during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Korea and Czechia in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)South Korea’s Hwang In-beom, right, shoots and scores a goal against Czechia goalkeeper Matej Kovar during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Korea and Czechia in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)South Korea’s Hwang In-beom, left, celebrates with South Korea’s Seol Young-woo after scoring their first goal during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Korea and Czechia in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)South Korea’s Lee Kang-in reacts with teammates after defeating Czechia during their World Cup Group A soccer match in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)South Korea goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu, right, celebrates with Oh Hyeon-gyu, center, and Kim Min-jae after the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Korea and Czechia in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)South Korea’s Seol Young-woo (22) celebrates with his team after a goal during the World Cup Group A soccer against Czechia in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
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