By Samson Owoeye
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is no longer a promise on the calendar. It is here.
Thursday night, 80,824 fans packed Estadio Azteca in Mexico City for the opening ceremony — a spectacle watched by more than 1.1 billion people globally, making it one of the most viewed sporting moments in recent history.
The ceremony set the tone for a tournament unlike any before it. By the time the players walked out, the stadium was already shaking.
Mexico delivered exactly what the home crowd demanded. A commanding 2-0 victory over South Africa, with Julián Quiñones striking in the 9th minute and Raúl Jiménez sealing it with a clinical header in the 67th. Three red cards. Maximum drama. El Tri won anyway.
Then came Guadalajara.
South Korea and Czechia served up the kind of match that reminds you why this tournament captivates billions. Czechia took the lead through Ladislav Krejci in the 59th minute. South Korea refused to fold.
Hwang In-beom equalized. And in a dramatic finish, South Korea found the winner to claim all three points — 2-1.
Son Heung-min and company are up and running.
Friday brings two fixtures that deserve every minute of your attention.
🇨🇦 Canada vs 🇧🇦 Bosnia & Herzegovina | Toronto, 3pm ET
Canada steps out as a co-host nation with something to prove. They have never won a World Cup match. Not once. Now, at BMO Field in front of a home crowd, the moment has finally arrived.
Bosnia & Herzegovina arrive with Edin Džeko — 40 years old, 73 international goals, and cleared to play after a shoulder injury. His presence alone changes everything.
Sentiment does not stop Džeko.
🇺🇸 USA vs 🇵🇾 Paraguay | Los Angeles, 9pm ET
SoFi Stadium. Prime time. The host nation under the lights.
Paraguay arrives quietly. No spotlight. Nothing to lose. And in tournament football, that combination is always dangerous.
This 2026 World Cup fixture could be the surprise of the opening weekend.
The group stage is just getting started.
Do not look away.
Samson Owoeye is a Toronto-based financial expert and football enthusiast. He works at the intersection of sports and real finance, reporting from inside Canada/North America for panatlantickompass.com.
