World Cup kicks off in grand style: Salma Hayek delivers speech and opens the tournament PHOTO/VIDEO

The ceremony began about 90 minutes before the tournament&rsquo;s opening match between Mexico national football team and South Africa national football team, a rematch of the fixture that opened the 2010 World Cup.Alongside a speech by Salma Hayek Pinault, the stage featured performances by Shakira, Burna Boy, J Balvin, Belinda, Lila Downs, Alejandro Fern&aacute;ndez, and other artists, while the crowd took part in activities organized by FIFA.The selection of Salma Hayek Pinault as a World Cup ambassador further strengthens the connection between the global entertainment industry and the world of sports.Tanjug/AP Photo/Ricardo MazalanSalma Hayek, who was born in Coatzacoalcos, has previously participated in FIFA events and now plays a central role at a tournament that, for the first time, features 48 national teams divided into 12 groups, with a total of 104 matches.Internationally renowned for roles such as her portrayal of Frida Kahlo in the movie Frida, Hayek used her speech to highlight the power of football to bring together people from different cultures.What the new format bringsFor the first time in history, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is being held across three host countries &ndash; Mexico, Canada, and United States &ndash; with each of them hosting its own opening ceremony.Salma Hayek da la bienvenida al Mundial 2026 desde el Estadio Ciudad de M&eacute;xico pic.twitter.com/uEedktnIu0&mdash; Guajiro Digital (@GuajiroDigital) June 11, 2026Following today&rsquo;s ceremony in Mexico, opening events will take place tomorrow in Toronto and Los Angeles.This structure was designed to ensure that both the celebrations and the economic benefits of the tournament are distributed more evenly among the host countries.

World Cup kicks off in grand style: Salma Hayek delivers speech and opens the tournament PHOTO/VIDEO

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