World Cup 2026 countdown begins as Somali referee appointed to UEFA Super Cup and NYC honors Thierry Henry in street renaming | Live updates
The opening day of the World Cup has been overshadowed by a mix of football, politics and security concerns as Mexico prepares to host the tournament opener against South Africa at the Azteca Stadium. Protests in Mexico City have continued in the lead-up to kickoff, including demonstrations by families of missing persons near the stadium, while authorities have put security measures in place around the venue. The event is being presented as the start of a historic, but highly controversial, expanded World Cup shared by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
On the pitch, England head into the tournament in upbeat mood after a 3-0 win over Costa Rica in their final warm-up match. Thomas Tuchel said the team were “on the right way,” with Jude Bellingham impressing in the No 10 role and likely strengthening his case to start the opening match against Croatia. Declan Rice also praised the squad’s depth, saying England have strong options off the bench and a confident atmosphere after a positive preparation camp.
There has been a series of off-field controversies around the tournament. Somali referee Omar Artan, who had previously been barred by US authorities from entering the country for World Cup duty, has now been chosen to officiate the Uefa Super Cup final between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain in August. His selection follows a significant backlash over his earlier treatment. In another incident, Côte d’Ivoire supporters have reportedly been denied visas to enter the United States, with officials from the country’s supporters’ committee saying the decision has prevented fans from travelling to back their team.
The tournament’s geopolitical tensions have also affected host cities. French authorities in Toulouse announced a curfew for under-16s during selected “high risk” World Cup matches, citing concerns about public disorder and youth delinquency after unrest linked to recent football celebrations. The curfew will apply overnight in certain central areas on match days considered most sensitive by local officials.
Commercially, ITV has called this the most lucrative sports event in its history, describing the expanded competition as a “six-week summer Super Bowl moment” for advertisers. But travel and hotel demand have been weaker than expected, with reports of lower flight bookings from Europe and reduced hotel revenue forecasts in some host cities. Short-term rentals, especially through Airbnb, appear to be one of the few strong performers.
Elsewhere in football news, Mary Earps will leave Paris Saint-Germain when her contract expires this summer, while West Ham United’s women’s team were reportedly not informed of restrictions placed on shareholder David Sullivan’s contact with the women’s side following a safeguarding investigation. Celtic have also confirmed Martin O’Neill’s return as manager on a one-year deal with an option for another season.
The build-up to kickoff has therefore combined celebration and unease, with football taking center stage amid protests, visa issues, security measures and broader concerns about how the tournament is being staged.
