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2026 FIFA World Cup begins with opening ceremony and new hydration rules

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially commenced at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The opening ceremony featured performances by artists including Shakira, Burna Boy, and J Balvin. FIFA has implemented mandatory cooling breaks for all 104 matches of the tournament to protect players from high temperatures, with two three-minute breaks scheduled at approximately the 22nd and 67th minutes. This expanded tournament features 48 national teams and is being hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Revenue projections for the event are estimated to reach between 9 and 10.9 billion dollars. The opening match resulted in a 2-0 victory for Mexico over South Africa, while South Korea defeated the Czech Republic 2-1. This edition of the tournament is the 23rd in history and will conclude after 104 games played in 16 host cities.

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