World Cup 2026 Opening Weekend: Every Fixture, June 11–15
The 2026 World Cup opens June 11 with Mexico vs South Africa at Estadio Azteca. Here is every opening-weekend fixture, kickoff time, and host city — plus the eSIM that follows you across all three countries.
Published June 10, 2026·5 min read
Summary
The 2026 World Cup opens Thursday, June 11 with hosts Mexico facing South Africa at Estadio Azteca at 1:00 PM local time (3:00 PM ET), the first of a 104-match, 48-team tournament. Here is every opening-weekend fixture from June 11 to 15, with kickoff times and host cities, plus the one eSIM that covers all three countries.
Opening weekend at a glance
After eight years of build-up, the first weekend front-loads marquee names. Mexico christens the renovated, ~87,500-seat Estadio Azteca — the only venue in history to stage three World Cup openers (1970, 1986, 2026) — before the action fans out to Guadalajara, Toronto, Los Angeles, the Bay Area, New Jersey, Boston, Atlanta, Seattle, and Miami over the following four days.
Every fixture, June 11–15
| Date | Match | Host city / venue |
|---|---|---|
| June 11 | Mexico vs South Africa | Mexico City — Estadio Azteca |
| June 11 | South Korea vs Czechia | Guadalajara — Estadio Akron |
| June 12 | Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina | Toronto — BMO Field |
| June 12 | USA vs Paraguay | Los Angeles — SoFi Stadium |
| June 13 | Brazil vs Morocco | New York / New Jersey — MetLife |
| June 13 | Haiti vs Scotland | Boston — Gillette Stadium |
| June 14 | Netherlands vs Japan | See group F preview |
| June 15 | Spain vs Cape Verde | Atlanta — Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
Kickoff times stretch from early afternoon to late evening Eastern, so a single day can deliver three or four matches back-to-back. For city-by-city detail, see our opening-day watch guide and the host-city pages for Los Angeles and Atlanta.
Staying connected across host cities
If you are chasing more than one match this weekend, you will likely cross a border or at least a few state lines. Here is how the connectivity options compare before you fly out.
| Option | Cost | Setup time | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| eSIM | Low | ~5 min (pre-install on Wi-Fi) | Excellent (local carrier) |
| Carrier roaming | High | Instant (already enabled) | Medium (partner-dependent) |
| Pocket Wi-Fi | Medium | Airport pickup / rental | Good (extra device to charge) |
A single North America eSIM covers Mexico City for the opener, then crosses to Los Angeles, Toronto, or any other host city without changing plans. From US$5 with Apple Pay, Google Pay, or card. See our opening-weekend eSIM setup guide to install before you fly.
FAQ
QWhen does the 2026 World Cup start?
AThe 2026 World Cup kicks off Thursday, June 11, 2026. Hosts Mexico face South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City at 1:00 PM local time (3:00 PM ET), the first whistle of a 104-match, 48-team tournament running through July 19.
QWhen do the USA and Canada play their first matches?
ABoth co-hosts open Friday, June 12. Canada plays Bosnia and Herzegovina at BMO Field in Toronto, and the USA faces Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
QHow many matches are played on opening weekend?
ARoughly a dozen group-stage matches run June 11–15. They span all three host nations, including Mexico vs South Africa, South Korea vs Czechia, the USA and Canada openers, Brazil vs Morocco, and Spain vs Cape Verde.
QDo I need a different SIM for each host country?
ANo — one North America eSIM covers all three. Mexico, the USA, and Canada are covered on a single plan, so fans following matches across borders stay connected without switching SIMs or paying daily roaming fees.
Bottom line
Opening weekend packs the hosts, Brazil, Spain, and a dozen other sides into five days across three countries. Map your matches, lock in transit and tickets, and install a North America eSIM before you leave so you are online from the moment you land. Kickoff is here.