Key Highlights
- Mexico opened FIFA World Cup 2026 with a 2-0 win over South Africa at the Estadio Azteca, with Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez on the scoresheet.
- The opener set a grim record of three red cards, the most in any single World Cup match, leaving South Africa with nine men.
- South Korea came from behind to beat Czechia 2-1 in Guadalajara, sealed by a substitute goal after Son Heung-min made way.
- USA and Canada begin today (12 June). Canada vs Bosnia starts 12:30 a.m. IST and USA vs Paraguay 6:30 a.m. IST, both on 13 June in India.
- Watch every match in India on Unite8 Sports (TV) and ZEE5 (streaming), across a 48-team, 104-match tournament running to 19 July.
The biggest World Cup ever staged is up and running in the football ground. The 2026 FIFA World Cup opened on 11 June (the early hours of 12 June in India) with co-hosts Mexico beating South Africa 2-0 at the Estadio Azteca, and South Korea recovering to down Czechia 2-1 in Guadalajara. The United States, Canada and Mexico share hosting duties for a 48-team, 104-match edition that runs until 19 July.
For Indian viewers waking up to the first scores, here is everything that has happened so far, what plays out today, and how to follow every kick from your living room.
Day One: a record-breaking night in Mexico City
Mexico gave the home crowd of more than 80,000 the result they wanted. Julián Quiñones struck from the edge of the box in the ninth minute and walked away with the player-of-the-match award. Raúl Jiménez, 35, headed in the second on 67 minutes for his first World Cup goal across four tournaments.
The match wrote itself into the record books for the wrong reason. The referee showed three red cards, the most ever in a single World Cup fixture, and left South Africa with nine men. Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane of South Africa both go into the suspension list, and so does Mexico captain César Montes after a dismissal that split opinion.
South Africa's camp argued the Montes call deserved a VAR rethink, since other defenders stood between the attacker and goal. The points stayed with Mexico, but Group A already has a sharper edge.
The Estadio Azteca added its own milestone. The ground became the first stadium to host matches at three men's World Cups, after 1970 and 1986.
South Korea dig deep against Czechia
The second game gave neutrals the comeback. Czechia took the lead on 58 minutes through Ladislav Krejčí, who rose to meet a long Vladimír Coufal throw-in with a clean header. South Korea answered through Hwang In-beom, who collected the equaliser and an assist on the night. The winner came from a substitute: Oh, on for captain Son Heung-min, finished off a Hwang In-beom cross to seal a 2-1 result at the Estadio Akron.
Son, now playing his club football in Major League Soccer, carries the Korean hopes again alongside Kim Min-jae and Lee Kang-in. A winning start eases the pressure before tougher group tests arrive.
FIFA World Cup 2026 today's matches: USA and Canada begin
The co-hosts from north of the border to take their turn on 12th June. The fixtures land in the small hours of 13 June for anyone watching in India.
- Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (Group B), Toronto. 3 P.M. ET, which is 12:30 a.m. IST on 13 June. Jesse Marsch's Canada open at home and start as group favourites alongside Switzerland.
- United States vs Paraguay (Group D), Los Angeles. 9 P.M. ET, which is 6:30 a.m. IST on 13 June. Christian Pulisic leads a USA side under heavy expectation on home soil.
This edition breaks from every World Cup you have watched before. FIFA expanded the field from 32 teams to 48, split into 12 groups of four. Each side plays three group games. The top two from every group go through, and so do the eight best third-placed teams, which sends 32 nations into the knockouts.
That maths creates a brand new stage. The Round of 32 begins on 28 June and adds an extra knockout round before the familiar last 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final. More teams means more debutants, more upsets in play, and a longer road to the trophy at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 19 July (around 6:30 a.m. IST on 20 July, a Sunday).
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New Rules in FIFA World Cup 2026
The International Football Association Board has handed referees a wider toolkit. VAR now reviews more situations, including corners awarded by mistake, cases of mistaken identity on cards, attacking fouls in the build-up before a restart, and second-yellow red cards that look clearly wrong on replay.
Player conduct also faces tighter control. A player who covers his mouth with a hand, arm or shirt during a confrontation with an opponent risks a straight red. Day one already showed the officials mean business.
Where to watch FIFA World Cup 2026 in India
Zee Entertainment holds the India broadcast rights for the tournament. Television coverage runs on the new Unite8 Sports network, across Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD, Unite8 Sports 2 and Unite8 Sports 2 HD. For mobile and online viewers, ZEE5 carries the live streams. Reports also point to select knockout games on DD Sports.
The opening ceremony aired at 10:30 p.m. IST on 11 June with performances from Shakira and Burna Boy, before the football began at 12:30 a.m. IST.
Most group matches reach Indian screens late at night or early in the morning, so plan your watch parties around the North American clock.
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