FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony LIVE: Mexico and South Africa game begins at Estadio Aztecha stadium in Mexico City

FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony LIVE: As Mexico City geared up to host the opening match of the World Cup on Thursday, the atmosphere around the iconic Estadio Azteca was electric, with mariachi music, blaring trumpets and waves of supporters dressed in dark green filling the area despite protests taking place across the capital.

Large crowds formed outside the stadium, creating long queues as fans waited to enter the first venue in history to host matches at three different World Cups. Inside, thousands of spectators joined together in song ahead of kickoff between Mexico and South Africa, according to Reuters.

Among them was 50-year-old Alejandro Garcia, who wore a sombrero and carried a replica World Cup trophy. He said he felt proud to see Mexico host the tournament once again, recalling that he was just a child when the country last staged the event in 1986.

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What time is the FIFA opening ceremony?

The FIFA World Cup opening ceremony took place in Mexico City and began at 1:30 pm ET (12:30 pm CT, 10:30 am PT). For viewers in India, the first FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in Mexico began at 11:00 pm IST.

Stay tuned with LiveMint for LIVE updates on FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony Protest

FIFA Opening Ceremony LIVE Updates

12: 36 pm

Mexico and South Africa's game begins at Estadio Aztecha in Mexico City.

12: 32 pm

Both teams have arrived: Mexico in their green kits and South Africa in silver tracksuits. The stage is set for the national anthems to begin.

12: 15 pm

For South Africa, the opening match carries special significance as the team returns to the World Cup stage after a lengthy absence. The nation etched its name in history by becoming the first African country to host the tournament in 2010, when it began its campaign with a draw against Mexico in Johannesburg.

However, South Africa struggled to maintain its place among the world's elite in the years that followed, missing out on the next three editions of the tournament. Their return was secured after a strong qualifying campaign that saw them finish ahead of Nigeria in their group to book a spot at the 2026 World Cup.

11: 59 pm

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11: 55 pm

These are the playing XIs for the opening match:

Mexico XI: Rangel, Reyes, Montes, Vásquez, Gallardo, Lira, Fidalgo, Gutiérrez, Alvarado, Jiménez, Quiñones.

South Africa XI: Williams, Mudau, Sibisi, Okon, Mbokazi, Modiba, Mokoena, Shitole, Adams, Rayners, Foster

11:45 pm

J Balvin energised the crowd with a performance of his 2019 hit ‘Qué Calor’ and his verse from ‘I Like It’

11: 38 pm

Fans share videos of Shakira performing 'Dai Dai' on X (formerly Twitter).

11: 30 pm

Shakira performs amazing ‘Dai Dai’ song, finishes official anthem.11: 29 pm

Shakira, J Balvin and Maná thrill the crowd with a spectacular opening ceremony performance.

11: 25 pm

Colombian singer J Balvin has also arrived. He has begun performing.

11: 21 pm

Mexican pop band Mana has arrived.

11: 17 pm

The FIFA World Cup opening ceremony has commenced.

11:12 pm

Somali referee Omar Artan has been appointed to officiate the UEFA Super Cup clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, according to HT. The appointment comes after Artan was removed from the list of referees for the World Cup when he was denied entry to the United States.

11:08 pm

The tournament is taking place against a backdrop of growing unrest in Mexico. In recent weeks, demonstrators have staged protests across the country, with some previously blocking access to a central plaza in Mexico City that is set to host major fan events during the World Cup.

Claudia Sheinbaum has faced criticism over her administration's expenditure on the tournament, while ongoing political controversies have further fueled public discontent. Meanwhile, members of the country's teachers' union have, for more than a week, vandalised and removed World Cup-themed statues as part of their demonstrations.

Many protesters argue that the government should prioritise pressing national concerns, including the issue of thousands of missing persons, rather than focusing significant resources on hosting the global sporting event.