“Does anybody know why?”: FIFA World Cup opening ceremony left Fox viewers furious before Mexico opener

The 2026 FIFA World Cup began on Thursday with fans around the world ready to watch the FIFA World Cup opening ceremony from Mexico City. Many viewers in the United States expected Fox to show the ceremony live before the opening match between Mexico and South Africa at the famous Estadio Azteca, officially called Mexico City Stadium for the tournament. However, many fans said they could not find the live ceremony on Fox when it started, leading to a flood of complaints on social media.

The opening event featured global music stars including Shakira and Burna Boy, who were scheduled to perform before the tournament opener. The ceremony took place ahead of the first match of the expanded 48-team World Cup, the biggest edition in tournament history. While the ceremony was available on Spanish-language broadcaster Telemundo and Peacock, many English-speaking viewers were frustrated by what they believed was missing live coverage on Fox.

FIFA World Cup opening ceremony sparks viewer frustration

As the FIFA World Cup opening ceremony got underway, social media quickly filled with questions from fans looking for the broadcast.

One viewer wrote, “FOX what the hell why aren’t you showing any of the opening ceremony? You did at the last World Cup what gives???”

Another asked, “Huh? Why isn’t FOX showing the World Cup opening ceremony?”

A third fan posted, “Does anybody know why fox didn’t show the opening ceremony LIVE??”

Fans flood social media with complaints

The confusion continued as more viewers joined the conversation online.

One frustrated fan wrote, “Why is Fox not showing the opening ceremony if it’s happening right now.”

Others shared similar reactions as they searched for ways to watch the pre-match celebrations. At the time of reporting, Fox had not publicly responded to the complaints. Reports said the ceremony was available through Telemundo and Peacock for Spanish-language audiences.

Shakira headlines Mexico City celebration

The Mexico City ceremony was one of three opening celebrations planned across the tournament’s host countries. Shakira and Burna Boy performed the official World Cup anthem before Mexico’s opening game. The event also featured several international and regional artists as FIFA launched the month-long competition.

Mexico and South Africa open World Cup 2026

After the ceremony, Mexico and South Africa met in the tournament’s first match. The game marked the official start of a World Cup that includes 48 teams and 104 matches across Mexico, the United States, and Canada.



Get the latest Sports news and live updates. Download the TOI App.