World Cup 2026: Tournament kicks off under shadow of politics and restrictions Submitted by Shaheryar Mirza on Thu, 06/11/2026 - 14:33 As this year's edition of the global competition gets underway, it is rife with barriers to entry and fears that fans will have to worry about more than team's performances People walk past a mural with political messages ahead of the match in Mexico City, Mexico, on 10 June 2026 (Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters) Off The world's most prestigious sporting event kicks off on Thursday, but for many it's a moment where the beautiful game meets the ugly realities of visa restrictions, price gouging and political interference. The first match of the tournament will take place between host country Mexico and 2010 host South Africa, followed by South Korea taking on Czechia. The Canada-US leg of the tournament starts Friday afternoon, with Canada facing Bosnia and Herzegovina and the US taking on Paraguay later in the evening. The US will host 78 out of 104 matches, with Canada and Mexico allotted 15 each. Despite Mexico's smaller footprint during the tournament, its opening ceremony could not escape the politicised landscape, with thousands of protesters descending on the Estadio Ciudad de Mexico ahead of the opening match.