VFF Chairman Tran Quoc Tuan Attends the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 World Cup

FIFA has formally invited VFF President Tran Quoc Tuan to the 2026 World Cup opening ceremony in Mexico. Signed by Gianni Infantino, the letter acknowledges Vietnam's football achievements and the strong partnership between FIFA and the VFF.

According to the schedule, Mr. Tran Quoc Tuan has arrived at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City to attend the opening ceremony and the inaugural match between Mexico and South Africa. This World Cup is the first to be co-hosted by three nations—Mexico, the United States, and Canada—and also marks the first time the tournament will feature three separate opening ceremonies, each reflecting the unique identity of its host country.

In the invitation, FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized that the 2026 World Cup is a historic event, carrying a message about the power of football to connect people around the world.

This occasion also allows the VFF leader to meet with FIFA officials and member associations, further advancing international cooperation. Vietnamese football is currently receiving FIFA's attention through various development programs and notable achievements at the youth level.

The 2026 World Cup will officially kick off on June 11 (local time) at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, with the opening match between hosts Mexico and South Africa. This is the first time the world's biggest football festival is being held across three countries—the USA, Mexico, and Canada—and also the first World Cup to feature 48 teams and 104 matches.

Unlike previous World Cups, FIFA is organizing three separate opening ceremonies in each host nation. The first takes place in Mexico City before the Mexico vs. South Africa match. Canada and the USA will then hold their own ceremonies in Toronto and Los Angeles ahead of their respective host team debuts. All three events are linked by a common theme of football's unifying power, but each country showcases its distinct cultural identity.

According to FIFA, the opening ceremony at Azteca Stadium will last approximately 16 minutes and 30 seconds, celebrating Mexican culture through music, color, and artistic performances. The program features renowned artists such as the band Maná, Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Los Ángeles Azules, Lila Downs, J Balvin, Danny Ocean, and South African singer Tyla.

Producer Marco Balich, who has worked on numerous Olympic opening ceremonies and major global sporting events, serves as the creative director for the 2026 World Cup opening ceremony series. Each show has its own style: Mexico draws inspiration from the traditional "papel picado" paper-cutting art, Canada highlights cultural diversity, while the USA aims for a modern and vibrant presentation.

Azteca Stadium also makes history as the first venue in the world to host the World Cup opening match three times, following the 1970 and 1986 tournaments.

The official activities begin on the evening of June 10 in Mexico City with a welcome reception at Castillo de Chapultepec, a famous historical site in Mexico. The Vietnamese Football Federation delegation will also attend the FIFA World Cup 2026 opening ceremony in Mexico City, scheduled for 1:00 PM on June 11 (2:00 AM on June 12, Vietnam time).

This is the first World Cup in history to feature 48 national teams, marking a new milestone for the world's biggest football tournament. Following that, the VFF delegation will watch the match between Asian representative Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Miami on the evening of June 15.

After the activities in Mexico, the program continues in Miami (USA), with the highlight being the FIFA 2026 Summit. The plenary session on June 14 will focus on strategic reports, development directions, and FIFA's priorities for the new term.