Goa, June 12 -- The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to begin with a spectacular opening ceremony on Thursday night, marking the start of football's biggest tournament. Co-hosts Mexico will kick off the competition against South Africa at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, but before the first ball is kicked, fans can expect a star-studded entertainment extravaganza featuring some of the world's biggest music artists.

The tournament is historic in more ways than one, as it is the first FIFA World Cup to be jointly hosted by three countries - the United States, Canada and Mexico. It is also the first edition to feature 48 teams, with a total of 104 matches scheduled across the three host nations.

The opening ceremony is scheduled to beg...