The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially gets underway this Thursday with an opening match between Mexico and South Africa at Mexico City Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 19:00 GMT. The most-watched sporting event on the planet enters a new era, becoming the first World Cup in history to feature 48 national teams, marking the tournament’s largest expansion since its inception.
Over the next month, the United States, Canada, and Mexico will become the global stage for football’s biggest stars
and the dreams of millions of fans. A total of 48 nations will battle for the most prestigious trophy in world football across 104 matches. The tournament will conclude on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in front of 82,500 spectators, while the champions will receive a record-breaking prize of $50 million.
Attention will naturally focus on traditional powerhouses such as defending champions Argentina, Brazil, France, Spain, Germany, and England. However, this edition will also showcase new faces on football’s biggest stage. Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan will make their historic World Cup debuts, highlighting the profound impact of the tournament’s expansion.

On the Arab front, this World Cup features an exceptional Arab representation with eight participating nations: Egypt, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Tunisia, Iraq, Qatar, and Jordan. It marks one of the largest Arab contingents in the history of the competition.

Algeria’s return to the global stage carries renewed hopes among supporters, with a talented generation eager to add a new glorious chapter to the legacy of the Desert Warriors also On the Algerian front, the return of the Desert Warriors to the World Cup stage is set to be accompanied by one of the most passionate and colourful fan bases in world football. Algerian supporters, renowned for their thunderous atmosphere and unwavering loyalty,
are expected to travel in their tens of thousands to stadiums across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Whether draped in the iconic green and white or waving the crescent and star with pride, Les Fennecs’ faithful have always transformed every venue into a second home a tradition that began with the legendary 1982 Gijón moment and lives on through every generation.
As the opening whistle blows, the dream begins for 48 nations, but only one will ultimately lift football’s most coveted trophy. Between dreams of glory and heartbreak, one thing is certain: the world is set to witness another unforgettable chapter in the history of the beautiful game.



