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  1. Get Involvedpublished at 09:57 BST

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    Scotland fan here, this World Cup feels different since we’re actually involved and not looking on from the shadows. Come on Scotland!

    Sam, Glasgow

  2. Who am I? Guess World Cup star No 4published at 09:53 BST

    A person with their back turned and arms outstretched

    That's right, it's our brand new Who am I? game.

    The rules are simple. Each day there's a new footballer and the challenge is to guess who they are in as few attempts as possible.

    After each wrong guess you unlock a new clue. But, the quicker you guess the answer, the more points you get.

    Three is a good score, four or five points is exceptional.

    Click here to have a go and let us know how you get on!

    Today's player and clues are set by BBC Sport's Joe Rindl.

  3. Postpublished at 09:52 BST

    Edin Dzeko, you say?

    Well, he arrives in the Americas having already sealed his status as a World Cup legend in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

    With his team already eliminated in 2014, Dzeko opened the scoring in their final group game against Iran to help Bosnia and Herzegovina seal their first ever World Cup win.

    Do you think you know your World Cup legends? Then boy, do we have a mid-morning distraction for you.

  4. Group B - who are the key players?published at 09:50 BST

    Canada, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland

    Bayern Munich defender Alphonso Davies is hoping to regain full fitness after a hamstring injury and could play a key role once he returns.

    Bosnia-Herzegovina striker Edin Dzeko, 40, relishes the big occasion and has waited 12 years to grab another chance at competing at a World Cup.

    Qatar's Akram Afif, a winger with licence to roam, scored a hat-trick of penalties to win the 2023 Asian Cup.

    Cameroon-born striker Breel Embolo was Switzerland's top scorer in qualifying and has pedigree; he is one of only five players to have scored multiple goals in both the 2022 World Cup (netting against Cameroon and Serbia) and the 2024 Euros.

    Sunderland's Granit Xhaka will be taking part in his fourth successive World Cup at the age of 33.

    Edin DzekoImage source, Getty Images
  5. Group B - who are the favourites?published at 09:46 BST

    Canada, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland

    Hosts Canada will fancy their chances of progressing as group winners.

    Switzerland, ranked 19th in the world, are the highest-ranked side in the group and the only one of the three teams to have progressed beyond this stage.

    It may not contain many big hitters, but this group should provide plenty of intriguing match-ups.

    Having stunned Italy in the play-offs to reach the World Cup finals for the first time since 2014, Bosnia-Herzegovina will relish their underdog status.

    Granit Xhaka of Switzerland during the international friendly match between Switzerland and Jordan at Kybunpark on May 31, 2026 in St Gallen, Switzerland.Image source, Getty Images
  6. Group Bpublished at 09:43 BST

    Canada, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland

    Canada

    World ranking - 30

    World Cup appearances - 3

    World Cup best performance - group stage

    Bosnia-Herzegovina

    World ranking - 65

    World Cup appearances - 2

    World Cup best performance- group stage

    Qatar

    World ranking - 55

    World Cup appearances - 2

    World Cup best performance - group stage

    Switzerland

    World ranking - 19

    World Cup appearances - 13

    World Cup best performance - quarter-finals

    James Pantemis #16, Kamal Miller #4 and Zorhan Bassong #3 of Canada during the national anthem before a game against Guatemala in the second half at BMO Stadium on January 17, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Image source, Getty Images
  7. Get Involvedpublished at 09:38 BST

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    I'll watch an opening ceremony, especially one hosted in Mexico (they throw a good party). But I would love if that were the only bit of pageantry for the rest of the World Cup. Half-time is for chips.

    Harry, Manchester

  8. Group A - who are the key players?published at 09:36 BST

    Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czech Republic

    Striker Raul Jimenez, 35, who re-signed for Wolves this week, usually delivers when Mexico need him most - just as he did in last year's Gold Cup final against the USA.

    Burnley's Lyle Foster, 25, is expected to lead South Africa's attack, although head coach Hugo Broos says he needs a confidence boost after a tough season in the Premier League.

    Former Spurs forward Son Heung-min is just two goals shy of Cha Bum-kun's all-time mark of 58. Without an MLS goal this season, he joked that he been saving them all for what is his fourth - and probably - final World Cup.

    Bayer Leverkusen's Patrik Schick, 30, was the joint-top scorer at Euro 2020 and his strike for Czech Republic from the halfway line against Scotland was named goal of the tournament.

    Raul JimenezImage source, Getty Images
  9. Group A - who are the favourites?published at 09:31 BST

    Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czech Republic

    Given the heat, home advantage and their status as the highest-ranked side in the group, Mexico will be favourites to top it.

    South Africa are back at the World Cup for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2010 and will aim to entertain once again, as they did 16 years ago.

    Mexico and South Africa famously opened the tournament in 2010 and will do so again.

    Despite going unbeaten in their 16 qualifiers, scoring 40 goals and conceding just eight, optimism is in short supply among South Korean fans.

    A lack of trust in the tactics of coach Hong Myung-bo, who is regularly booed, has led to a sense of apathy.

    The Czech Republic are appearing at their first World Cup in 20 years and may fancy their chances of progressing from this group.

    Mexico's players pose for a team photo ahead of a friendly football match between Mexico and Portugal at the Banorte (formerly known as Azteca) Stadium in Mexico City on March 28, 2026Image source, Getty Images
  10. Group Apublished at 09:28 BST

    Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czech Republic

    Mexico

    World ranking - 15

    World Cup appearances - 18

    World Cup best performance - quarter-finals

    South Africa

    World ranking - 60

    World Cup appearances - 4

    World Cup best performance - group stage

    South Korea

    World ranking - 25

    World Cup appearances - 12

    World Cup best performance - semi-finals (2002)

    Czech Republic

    World ranking - 41

    World Cup appearances - 10*

    World Cup best performance - runners-up (1934, 1962 as Czechoslovakia)

    *includes appearances by former Czechoslovakia, whose records are recognised by Fifa.

    South Africa during the International Friendly match between South Africa and PanamaImage source, Getty Images
  11. Postpublished at 09:27 BST

    Between Shakira and Raul Jimenez, there's something for everyone at this evening's curtain raiser.

    Will you be tuning in as the 2026 World Cup kicks off at Estadio Azteca?

    Thumbs up for yes, thumbs down for no.

    In the meantime, let's take a look at the football which will take the stage once Burna Boy & co have warmed up the crowd.

    We'll start with the teams that hosts Mexico will face on their quest to qualify from Group A.

  12. Three popstar-filled opening ceremoniespublished at 09:21 BST

    ShakiraImage source, Getty Images

    Colombian pop star Shakira will perform her official song for the 2026 World Cup at the competition's opening ceremony in Mexico.

    Shakira will perform Dai Dai, along with Burna Boy, on Thursday, 11 June at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, before Mexico and South Africa play the first of the tournament's 104 games (20:00 BST).

    Dai Dai - an Italian phrase meaning "let's go" or "come on".

    Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin and South African singer-songwriter Tyla will also perform at the show in Mexico.

    Opening ceremonies will precede each of the first matches played in the host nations of USA, Canada and Mexico.

    Canadian singer-songwriters Michael Buble and Alanis Morissette will headline the opening ceremony at BMO Field in Toronto before Canada take on Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday, 12 June (20:00 BST).

    In the USA, pop star Katy Perry and rapper Future will perform before the USA take on Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, 12 June (Saturday, 02:00 BST).

    Shakira, along with Madonna and K-pop boyband BTS, will also co-headline the Super Bowl-style half-time show at this summer's World Cup final on 19 July.

  13. When is the opening ceremony?published at 09:16 BST

    This summer’s World Cup spans three host nations, and each will stage its own opening ceremony ahead of its first match.

    • Mexico opens the tournament on Thursday 11 June, before their match against South Africa at 20:00 BST
    • Canada follows on Friday 12 June, ahead of their game with Bosnia-Herzegovina at 20:00 BST
    • The USA hosts its ceremony on Saturday 13 June, before facing Paraguay at 02:00 BST

    All ceremonies begin 90 minutes before kick-off. The first opening ceremony will begin later at 18:30 BST.

    The BBC will show the opening ceremonies for the matches.

    General view of Mexico City Stadium on May 20, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico.Image source, Getty Images
  14. And so it beginspublished at 09:11 BST

    The World Cup begins later today as Mexico host South Africa (20:00 BST) at Mexico City Stadium.

    It is a repeat of the fixture that opened the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

    Siphiwe Tshabalala's stunning left-footed strike went down in history to open the scoring, with the game finishing 1-1.

    Who will open the scoring this time?

    Siphiwe Tshabalala of South Africa celebrates after scoring the opening goal while Ricardo Osorio (R) and goalkeeper Oscar Perez of Mexico look dejected during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South AfricaImage source, Getty Images
  15. Postpublished at 09:07 BST

    Right, that's enough England chatter for today.

    But don't fret - there will be plenty more of that to come across the duration of this massive tournament.

    And remember we've got BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty joining us later today to answer any questions you may have - England or otherwise.

    Start getting your questions into him now by clicking 'Get Involved' at the top of this page.

    For now, we're going to take a look at what's happening later today when it all kicks off in Mexico.

    Then we'll start guiding you through what to expect from the group stage as a whopping 48 teams battle it out to advance to the knockout rounds.

    I hope you're sitting comfortably!

  16. What other games have been affected?published at 09:02 BST

    Charlotte Coates
    BBC Sport

    England's friendly with Costa Rica was not the first to be hit by extreme weather before the start of the World Cup.

    The incident in Orlando followed last week's warm-up game between Saudi Arabia and Puerto Rico in Austin, Texas, which was stopped for almost two hours.

    The match was brought to a halt in the 21st minute as thunderstorms and lightning forced players off ⁠the pitch, with ⁠spectators told to seek shelter.

    Repeated lightning strikes led to multiple resets of ⁠the mandatory 30-minute delay before play eventually restarted.

    While the Q2 Stadium will not host any World Cup matches, two stadiums in Texas will be used during the tournament.

    There will be seven matches at the Houston Stadium, while the Dallas Stadium will host nine games, including England's group game against Croatia - although both venues have retractable roofs which can reduce the impact of the conditions.

  17. Is England v Costa Rica delay a sign of things to come?published at 08:58 BST

    Charlotte Coates
    BBC Sport

    England head coach Thomas Tuchel said the delay to their World Cup warm-up game with Costa Rica gave them a "little taste of what can happen" - but will that prove to be an understatement?

    The match was due to start at 21:00 BST in Orlando, Florida, but heavy rain and thunderstorms pushed it back an hour to 22:00 BST.

    Weather delays have been a major talking point in the build-up to this year's World Cup, with several matches in last year's Fifa Club World Cup in the United States impacted by thunderstorms.

    This was not the first tournament warm-up game to suffer delays caused by storms either - and many fans are concerned it could become a theme throughout the World Cup.

    "We were aware of that before - now we experience it," Tuchel told ITV before the game. "It's no problem.

    "It should not be an excuse to lose our mood or patience or to lose our hunger to play the game.

    "No problem at all. We realised it when we were still at the hotel so it was easy. We just said half an hour later in the bus and let's go."

    Fans who had already arrived at Inter&Co Stadium were told to evacuate from the stands and retreat to a safe position on the concourses to avoid lightning strikes.

    Thunderstorms in the US are not uncommon, but when it comes to them impacting matches, Fifa has no power to make its own rules and must adhere to the advice of local authorities.

  18. 'Match with more intensity'published at 08:57 BST

    England 3-0 Costa Rica

    Nick Hatton
    BBC West Yorkshire Sport

    That match though delayed last night by and hour because of storms in Orlando. It was a match certainly with more intensity than last weekend, that's what Thomas Tuchel called for. It's more like a first choice England team as well apart from Noni Madueke in for his Arsenal team-mate Bukayo Saka, whose minutes are being managed as he is still recovering from that Achilles injury.

    Saka was one of 11 players to come on in the second-half, Anthony Gordon's penalty and Ollie Watkins' strike making the score line more comprehensive after Declan Rice scored the opening goal.

  19. How could storm protocols affect World Cup matches?published at 08:51 BST

    England 3-0 Costa Rica

  20. Postpublished at 08:51 BST

    I knew it wouldn't be long that, in true British fashion, someone mentioned the weather.

    There are few things we love moaning about more - whether it's too hot, too cold or too wet.

    We got a sign of how the next few weeks might be impacted by any of those three issues last night...