Saad Jahan ; Desk Report – The world is officially catching football fever. Radiant blue skies welcomed the US Men’s National Team in California last Monday as they held their first public training session.
In a nation traditionally dominated by basketball and baseball, a staggering 5,500 fans bought tickets just to watch the hosts practice—a rare and telling sign of the soccer boom taking over America.
This electric enthusiasm is spreading like wildfire across other major US cities. Argentina and England have pitched their base camps in Kansas, Brazil has settled in New Jersey, Portugal is holding court in Florida, and France is stationed in Boston.
Fans are already flooding these cities for a glimpse of their sporting idols. Meanwhile, in football-mad Mexico, the hype is reaching an absolute fever pitch.
Canada’s buildup remains slightly more subdued, but the entire North American continent is buzzing. The spectacle officially begins tomorrow, Thursday midnight (Bangladesh Time), at Mexico City’s historic Azteca Stadium.
A spectacular three-dimensional opening ceremony will kick off in Mexico City featuring global pop icon Shakira, followed by colorful celebrations in Toronto and Los Angeles the next day.
For fans back in Bangladesh, the majority of the matches will air during the dead of night or early hours of the morning, prompting football fanatics across the country to prepare for sleepless, action-packed weeks ahead.
A Historic Rematch at Estadio Azteca
Coincidentally, the opening clash is a direct rematch of the 2010 World Cup opener: Mexico vs. South Africa. Sixteen years ago, Colombian pop star Shakira became the face of the tournament with her infectious anthem ‘Waka Waka’, while South African star Siphiwe Tshabalala ignited the African continent with a stunning left-footed opening goal against Mexico. Will opening day deliver a similar fairytale shock this time around?
The legendary Azteca Stadium (recently renamed the Mexico City Stadium after extensive renovations) already holds a sacred place in football folklore. This marks the third time the venue will host a World Cup opening match, following the historic 1970 and 1986 tournaments.
It is the very ground where both Brazil and Argentina lifted the ultimate trophy: football emperor Pelé dismantled Italy here in 1970 to claim the Jules Rimet Trophy, and football god Diego Maradona conquered West Germany in 1986. While this iconic pitch won’t host the final this year, its legacy is elevated to a whole new stratosphere.
Star-Studded, High-Octane Ceremonies
The opening ceremony in Mexico will commence exactly 1.5 hours before the inaugural match. Shakira returns as the headline act, sharing the grand stage with Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Burna Boy, Colombian singer J Balvin, and South African breakout star Tyla.
The celebrations will cascade across borders:
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June 12 (Toronto): Renowned Canadian pop star Michael Bublé and singer Alanis Morissette will command the stage.
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June 13 (Los Angeles): The US leg will explode into life at the SoFi Stadium, featuring mega-performances by Katy Perry, Future, Lisa, Anitta, Rema, and Tyla.
Every opening ceremony will strictly commence 90 minutes before the respective host country’s first match.
A Massive Global Celebration, Kept Short
This mega-event marks the first time in history that the FIFA World Cup will feature an expanded 48-team format. Spanning 16 cities across three nations, the 104-match global carnival will reach its grand finale on July 19 in New York.
In a statement regarding the grand opening, FIFA President Gianni Infantino remarked:
“The FIFA World Cup is a moment that the entire world shares. Beginning in Mexico City and continuing into Toronto and Los Angeles, these opening ceremonies will be a unique fusion of music, culture, and football, highlighting the distinct identity of each nation. It is a truly global celebration.”
However, according to The Athletic (the sports daily of the New York Times Group), none of the three opening ceremonies will drag on. While exact durations weren’t disclosed, sources confirm no ceremony will exceed 30 minutes. The moment the brief, high-energy shows conclude, the pitch will immediately be handed over to the teams for their warm-ups.
Visa Controversies Cast a Shadow
Despite the grandeur, the “Greatest Show on Earth” has faced criticism, losing some of its diplomatic luster due to the strict visa regulations and behavior of US authorities.
The Iranian national football team has reportedly been issued highly restrictive single-day visas. Based in Mexico, the Iranian squad will be forced to fly into the US, play their match, and immediately fly back to Mexico the same day.
Furthermore, an Iraqi footballer was subjected to a grueling seven-hour interrogation at the airport, while Senegalese players faced exhaustive security checks down to their socks. Most shockingly, Africa’s most successful referee, Omar Artan of Somalia, was completely denied entry into the United States, forcing FIFA to drop him from the official tournament referees list.
The Iranian Football Federation has also alleged that tickets allocated for their fans were unilaterally canceled by the US.