By Wellington Jopelo
The wait is over as the FIFA World Cup 2026 officially begins today, marking the start of the biggest football tournament in history, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The expanded competition will feature 48 nations competing across multiple cities in North America.
The opening ceremony is expected to take place earlier in the day, before the first set of matches begin. Due to the time difference between North America and Nigeria, fans in West Africa Time (WAT) will be watching most of the action in the evening and late-night hours.
Today’s opening fixtures begin with the tournament’s first group-stage games, including matches involving host nations and other top teams. The most notable of the opening-day fixtures is Mexico’s opening match in Mexico City, scheduled for 8:00pm WAT, making it the first major kick-off of the tournament for Nigerian viewers.
Other opening matches are expected to follow later in the night, with fixtures involving the United States and Canada likely falling into late-night and early morning WAT slots, depending on final scheduling.
Fans across Nigeria and the world are expected to tune in from the evening as the tournament immediately delivers intensity, passion, and early battles for qualification points.
This edition introduces a new expanded 48-team format, making it the biggest World Cup ever staged, with more matches, more nations, and more opportunities for surprises.
All eyes will also be on football legends potentially playing their final World Cup. Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Neymar are widely viewed as entering the “last dance” phase of their international careers, adding emotional weight to every appearance.
At the same time, a new generation is ready to take over the global stage. Young stars such as Lamine Yamal, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, Endrick, and others are expected to define the future of world football.
Attention will also be on defending champions Argentina, who face a difficult task of retaining the trophy in an expanded and highly competitive format where more nations now have realistic chances of going far.
With strong contenders from Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia, this edition is widely expected to be one of the most unpredictable World Cups in history.
For fans everywhere, the message is clear: the world’s biggest football competition is back, and every match from now promises drama, history, and unforgettable moments.