MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:
Finally, the wait is over.
UNIDENTIFIED GROUP: (Chanting in Spanish).
KELLY: "Mexico," they're chanting. The 2026 Soccer World Cup is upon us. The tournament has just kicked off in Mexico City. Enrique Barrera (ph) had tears in his eyes as he entered the city's main square.
(SOUNDBITE OF HORNS TOOTING)
ENRIQUE BARRERA: (Through interpreter) It's an inexplicable feeling. It's a marvel, a marvel.
KELLY: It is the biggest ever World Cup. It's taking place across three countries, the U.S., Mexico and Canada. The numbers - 48 teams, a total of 104 matches played over 39 days and watched by billions of us fans. NPR's following the pain, the glory and the inevitable politics throughout. We caught up with correspondent Eyder Peralta in Mexico City's main square, the zocalo. He was with other fans just as Mexico defeated South Africa two-nothing.
EYDER PERALTA, BYLINE: We're in the zocalo, the main square of this city, and like, the game...
(SOUNDBITE OF HORN BLARING)
PERALTA: ...Just finished. Mexico won 2-0, and what you're hearing is elation. And, you know, the morning actually didn't start great here. There were protesters all over the city, and the city was paralyzed. It was super hard for fans to get to the stadium. It was hard for them to get here, to the zocalo. But football always finds a way.
KELLY: Oh, yeah.
PERALTA: As Mexicans like to say, nothing in Mexico is impossible. And they made it to the stadium. And I'm surrounded right now by thousands of fans. It's pandemonium. It's euphoria. This is a holy day for Mexicans and football fans across the world, and Mexico City is one of the sport's greatest sanctuaries. So as you heard earlier from Enrique Barrera, it's a feeling that's hard to explain, but the tears and the songs and the shouts tell you everything you need to know.
KELLY: Yeah. I mean - big picture - I can hear the excitement all around you as this tournament kicks off. Is the bigger story here one of unity through sport, or is politics poking through in the way that it often does?
PERALTA: I think it's poking through in a huge way. I mean, locally here, there's been big protests. But this is also the first time a host country is welcoming a country that it is fighting a war against. The U.S. will welcome Iran next week in Los Angeles. But they've said that Iran cannot stay in the United States, so they've moved their training camp south of the border to Tijuana. I was just there, and the team is holed up in a Marriott Hotel. A supervisor (ph) who's staying with the team said they're trying not to pay attention to the politics of the war between the U.S., Israel and Iran but that it's been hard. He said they were worried about what will happen when the national team tries to get into the United States. You know, they're thinking, will they be allowed in or held up for hours?
It's worth noting that others have had problems, as well. A Somali referee was denied entry. An Iraqi player was held by immigration for hours. And one of their team photographers was denied entry as well. FIFA President Giovanni Infantino was pressed on this yesterday, and he told reporters to chill. He said they're working on it.
KELLY: Yeah. It's so interesting because, as you know, this whole World Cup was originally billed as a showcase of North American unity. Canada, Mexico, the U.S. - they were going to do it all together in perfect sync. Is it going to achieve that? What's your sense?
PERALTA: Well, you know, all three countries are hosting games. The games in the U.S. and Canada begin tomorrow. And as you know, soccer has a way of making politics melt away as soon as the tournament gets going. But look, the North American alliance seemed unshakable just a couple of years ago, and now this tournament is taking place at a time when the countries are making pronouncements on sovereignty, and President Trump is threatening to annex Canada and strike Mexico militarily. And he's also threatening to back out of trade agreements with both - the same trade agreement synonymous with North American unity.
KELLY: OK. Enough on the trade. Let's go to the really important stuff, Eyder - the soccer. What are fans where you are most excited about? Who are they talking about as potential winners?
PERALTA: Potential winners are who you would expect - France, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, England and the reigning champion, Argentina. But let's talk about Mexico, since I'm here. This is a team that has always disappointed despite having one of the most faithful following in the world. But today, it's all faith. It's all hope. Everyone is all-in on this tournament, and they're hoping for a miracle.
KELLY: All right, NPR's Eyder Peralta. You're hearing him reporting live from Mexico City's main square, the zocalo, where they are hoping for a miracle. Thank you, Eyder.
PERALTA: Thank you, Mary Louise. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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