Overview
- Co-host Mexico opened the tournament with a 2-0 win over South Africa at Estadio Azteca, a match on June 11 that drew more than 80,000 fans and featured an opening ceremony with performances by Shakira, Burna Boy and Andrea Bocelli.
- The United States beat Paraguay 4-1 at SoFi Stadium with Folarin Balogun scoring twice, a result that immediately shaped Group-stage expectations for the host nations.
- Qatar salvaged a 1-1 draw with Switzerland thanks to a 94th-minute equalizer, giving Qatar its first ever World Cup point and altering Group B dynamics late in the match.
- FOX drew intense criticism after showing its studio desk during the Mexico ceremony and running multiple commercials during a FIFA/IFAB-mandated hydration break, which viewers say caused the broadcast to miss live play and may have violated rules that require returning to the field before restart.
- All U.S. World Cup matches are on FOX/FS1 in English and Telemundo in Spanish with streaming available on services such as Fubo, Peacock, DirecTV Stream and Hulu + Live TV, and Brazil begin Group C without Neymar while Vinícius Jr. has declared himself fully fit for the opener.