A huge World Cup began on Thursday with a colourful ceremony at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The tournament is now the largest in football history, with 48 teams instead of 32, and includes matches in Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Many people may watch games online or with friends, as millions of fans from around the world follow the action.

Mexico played South Africa in the opening match after the show. The Estadio Azteca became the first stadium to host an opening match at three different World Cups. Over 87,000 people attended and police used strong security to manage the large international crowd.

This World Cup has 104 matches in 16 cities, giving more countries the chance to play. The competition will last 39 days with the final in the United States in July. Organisers have worked hard to prepare for so many teams and fans travelling between cities across North America.