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Construction workers pass by a replica of the World Cup ball outside Mexico City’s Benito Juárez International Airport on Tuesday. Global attention will shift to the Mexican capital Thursday (Friday morning Beijing time) for the first official opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup 2026, scheduled 90 minutes before the inaugural match between Mexico and South Africa. In an unprecedented move, the 2026 tournament will feature a trio of opening ceremonies across the host nations — the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The competition will include 104 matches across 16 host cities, kicking off in Mexico City and culminating in the final July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey in the U.S.Xinhua