Infantino’s rebrand and lengthy haul video games: 5 takeaways from World Cup opener | World Cup 2026

World Cup fever

Mexicans have waited 40 years to witness a World Cup in their very own nation and the delight felt from changing into the primary nation to stage three tournaments has been simple to sense within the metropolis all week. Those lucky sufficient to have secured tickets weren’t going to overlook out. Despite street closures and a number of protests from putting academics and households of the nation’s 130,000 disappeared making journey difficult, all 83,000 seats on the Azteca have been crammed 90 minutes earlier than kick-off, with Fifa’s fears of being compelled to delay proceedings proving unfounded.

Many followers endured a reasonably arduous journey, strolling a number of miles alongside the aspect of closed motorways from 8am to make sure they have been in place lengthy earlier than kick-off. The sight of tens of 1000’s of sombreros being thrown within the air simply earlier than kick-off was a stirring spectacle, whereas the embryonic Mexican Wave that rippled round this huge bowl for the primary time within the seventeenth minute was sufficient for even the most important World Cup sceptic to momentarily park their doubts.

Shakira returns

More than £7m raised from the proceeds of the 2010 hit Waka Waka that was presupposed to go to charity stays unaccounted for, however Shakira clearly has no onerous emotions. The Colombian pop star returned to headline one other World Cup opening ceremony and stole the present from fellow performers Burna Boy, J Balvin and Danny Ocean together with her rendition of the official event track, Dai Dai, though the brand new tune is unlikely to surpass her unique contribution to soccer tradition.

As effectively as being remembered as an iconic World Cup anthem, Waka Waka seared itself into the broader international consciousness, reaching No 1 in 15 completely different nations and attracting greater than 4.4bn views on YouTube and greater than 1bn Spotify downloads. Fittingly, this sport was the reverse fixture of the opening match in 2010, when South Africa hosted Mexico in a 1-1 draw at Soccer City, Johannesburg, though mercifully few of the travelling followers had dusted down their vuvuzelas from that event. Just earlier than kick-off right here, Andrea Bocelli carried out the World Cup anthem, DNA, though it was the size of time it took the 48 flag bearers to stroll on to the pitch that made the most important impression, reinforcing the truth that some endurance might be required to get by way of this severe marathon of a World Cup.

Humble Gianni

On the eve of the Qatar World Cup 4 years in the past, Gianni Infantino solid himself as an nearly messianic consultant of the underrepresented and oppressed, whereas even on the attract Washington six months in the past he revelled in Donald Trump’s description of him because the “King of Football”. But the Fifa president has projected a really completely different picture at this event.

Coming up in opposition to the political and administrative necessities of the US authorities specifically has been a sobering expertise for Fifa, with Infantino at pains to say it’s only a sports activities organisation with little affect over necessary issues akin to immigration and safety coverage. From a person hubristic sufficient to arrange an lternative to the Nobel peace prize final yr, it has been fairly a change of tone.

Hungry hosts

Mexico might have been lucky to kick off in opposition to a sloppy South Africa aspect, who gifted them a objective after solely 9 minutes with some careless passing and poor goalkeeping, however the hosts took full benefit and will make an actual affect on the event. Unlike the opposite nations right here, most of Javier Aguirre’s aspect have benefited from an prolonged interval of preparation, with the Liga MX gamers known as to a compulsory five-week coaching camp final month, they usually regarded sharp from the outset.

Wingers Roberto Alvarado and goalscorer Julián Quiñones, specifically, regarded threatening, and the hosts ought to have added to their lead throughout a dominant first half. While South Korea and Czechia ought to current extra of a problem of their remaining fixtures, Mexico’s encouraging begin strengthened the impression they’d be no pushovers for England in the event that they meet within the final 16, as they may if each win their respective teams.

Long haul

Even in comparatively temperate circumstances, and with few stoppages in play, the World Cup’s opening sport nonetheless felt like a slog, which is prone to have set the tone for the event. With Fifa’s necessary three-minute hydration breaks taken regardless of temperatures of simply 22 levels, the Brazilian referee, Wilton Sampaoi, didn’t blow his half-time whistle till 55 minutes after kick-off, although simply 4 minutes of added time had been performed.

It appears nearly inevitable that each one matches on this competitors will stretch over two hours and niggly contests with a number of stoppages performed in scorching circumstances might find yourself lasting far longer.