United Football

In the midst of a divided global situation, football attempts to present itself as an antithesis through the 2026 World Cup. At the very least, that is the promise when the United States, Canada, and Mexico unite to host this grand quadrennial event.

The 2026 World Cup will be opened with a match between the host Mexico and South Africa at the Azteca Stadium, Mexico City, on Friday (12/6/2026) at 02:00 WIB. This historic opening ceremony will take place in three host countries, marking the first time the World Cup tournament is held in three nations.

Meanwhile, the United States previously hosted the tournament in 1994, Mexico in 1970 and 1986, and it was the first event for Canada. This edition is historic as it will feature 48 teams for the first time, with 104 matches held across 16 cities. The final match will take place at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, United States, on July 19.

The opening trilogy will share a common theme to unite the three hosts, while showcasing each country’s culture, identity, and creativity. A host of world-class artists will grace the opening ceremony, which begins 90 minutes before kickoff for each country’s first match.

In Mexico City, Shakira and Burna Boy will perform “Dai Dai,” the official song of the 2026 World Cup. In addition to being the official song, “Dai Dai” is also released to support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise 100 million US dollars by the end of the tournament to provide children around the world with access to quality education and opportunities to play football.

According to FIFA, their performance will serve as the opening act for the inaugural match while uniting fans from various parts of the world in a celebration of football, music, and culture. In addition to Shakira and Burna Boy, several other singers will also perform, including Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, and Lila Downs.

They will present the musical ambiance from the official album of the 2026 World Cup to the global audience. Shakira is also scheduled to be one of the main performers at the halftime show of the final match on July 19.

As the host of the opening match, Mexico will kick off a trilogy of opening ceremonies that will continue in Canada and the United States the following day. In Toronto, Canada, the opening event will feature Michael Buble and Alanis Morissette before the match between Canada and Bosnia-Herzegovina at BMO Field. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, USA, the performing artists will include Katy Perry and Future ahead of the match between the USA and Paraguay at SoFi Stadium.

“Starting in Mexico City and continuing the next day in Toronto and Los Angeles, this series of ceremonies will blend music, culture, and football in a way that reflects the identity of each country while also embodying the unity that is the spirit of this tournament,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

â€United 2026â€

The message of unity at the 2026 World Cup feels in stark contrast to the current global conditions. This tournament arrives at a time when the world is engulfed in escalating geopolitical conflicts and various U.S. policies that complicate issues further.

The US-Israel attacks on Iran have a direct impact on the World Cup event. Iran’s participation, as one of the representatives from Asia, was initially uncertain due to the conflict. They ultimately departed while facing disputes regarding visas, as several members of the support team had their visas denied.

Iran must also relocate its headquarters from Tucson, USA, to Tijuana, Mexico. Adding to the chaos, the country’s football federation, FFIRI, claimed on Tuesday (10/6/2026) that FIFA revoked the ticket allocation for their supporters for three group stage matches held in the United States.

Each federation of the 48 participating teams is entitled to receive and distribute 8 percent of the stadium’s capacity for each of its matches in the World Cup. This figure equates to several thousand tickets per game. Now, just a few days before Iran begins its campaign on June 15 against New Zealand in Los Angeles, FFIRI claims that they are now unable to provide tickets for their supporters.

FFIRI indicated that the US took steps to obstruct the presence of Iranian supporters in the stadium. “This incident raises serious questions about the influence of non-sporting factors and politics on the organization of the world’s largest football event,” stated FFIRI.

FIFA, in its statement, mentioned that it is working in collaboration with the Iranian Football Federation to find appropriate solutions to maximize opportunities for Iranian supporters to attend matches.

The policy of travel restrictions and tightening of US visas has also affected match officials. This was exemplified by FIFA referee from Somalia, Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was denied entry into the US upon his arrival at Miami International Airport on Saturday (6/6/2026). Players have also been impacted, as was the case with Moroccan player Zakaria El Ouahdi, whose visa application was rejected, necessitating his replacement by Ali Maamar.

“United 2026” was the theme of the United States, Canada, and Mexico’s bid eight years ago. At the 68th FIFA Congress in Moscow, Russia, on June 13, 2018, the bid garnered 134 votes from FIFA’s 203 member associations, thus securing the three North American countries’ right to host.

Although the idea may seem fragile in the current situation, the message of United 2026 is actually relevant, namely that football can serve as a space for encounters when geopolitics more often results in disputes rather than togetherness. Therefore, the 2026 World Cup is no longer merely a stage for tactical and talent competitions on the field.

With 48 participants and the largest format in history, FIFA showcases an inclusive ambition to provide opportunities for more countries. Nations that have long been marginalized are given the chance to take center stage on the world stage.

“The World Cup is one of those rare moments when the entire world stops to watch it,” said US national team midfielder, Sebastian Berhalter, describing the event in a letter titled “Letters that Unite” released by FIFA.

The 2026 World Cup is expected to serve as a global humanitarian pause as billions of eyes momentarily halt disputes to celebrate togetherness in football. Certainly, it would be excessive to assume that the World Cup can stop wars or hostilities that are deeply rooted.

However, football can at least create a shared space that is increasingly difficult to find today. For 90 minutes of the match, whether in the stadium or at home, people can respect the same rules, accept the same outcomes, and share the same drama. (AP)