From The Sports Desk: The World Cup is finally here

World CupFrom The Sports Desk: The World Cup is finally hereCo-hosts Mexico take on South Africa as the 2026 World Cup gets underway.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Add NBC News to GoogleSteve Kornacki previews 2026 FIFA World Cup matches and underdogs03:56Get more newsLiveonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJune 11, 2026, 12:16 PM EDTBy David Hickey and Greg RosensteinForty-eight teams. Three host countries. Sixteen stadiums. And 39 days long. The 23rd edition of the men’s World Cup is finally here, with the opening ceremony taking place at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium today ahead of co-hosts Mexico taking on South Africa. When Shakira and Burna Boy perform the official anthem “Dai Dai” at the ceremony, FIFA will no doubt be hoping that after a bumpy run-up to the competition, the world can finally start talking soccer. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.World Cup Match PreviewMexico — one of the three co-hosts with America and Canada — will bid to end its World Cup opening-day curse when it takes on South Africa in the tournament’s first game today at the recently renovated Azteca Stadium. It’s a repeat of the first game of the 2010 competition, in Johannesburg, which ended 1-1.That was a relative success for a nation that has repeatedly failed to win its opening game. Coach Javier Aguirre told a news conference Wednesday: “We must break that trend.”Mexico's forward Raul Jimenez reaches for the ball during friendly match against Serbia in Toluca, Mexico on June 4, 2026. Mario Vazquez / AFP via Getty ImagesEl Tri enters the tournament buoyed by a run of warmup victories, and hoping veteran forward Raúl Jiménez can help fire them to glory on home soil. Fans will also be pinning their hopes on midfielder Gilberto Mora, at 17 this World Cup’s youngest player and a potential breakout star. Mexico has only made it to the last eight twice, both times when it hosted the tournament, in 1970...