The opening matchdays of the 2026 World Cup not only delivered goals and excitement on the field, but also an unexpected conversation on social media: the comparison between the opening ceremonies held in Mexico and Canada.
Mexico’s ceremony had received criticism at the time for different aspects of the show, but as the days went by and the opening in Canada appeared, many users began to reconsider their initial opinion. The Canadian event, more subdued and with less visual spectacle, was perceived by part of the public as simpler than expected for a tournament of this magnitude.
In that context, a phrase began to be repeated on social media that went viral among fans: “we have to apologize to Mexico”, referring to the idea that the Mexican opening ceremony had been underestimated compared with what was seen later.
While some defended both ceremonies because of their cultural and approach differences, others used the contrast to fuel the debate over which country managed to better represent the spirit of the World Cup in its opening.
The truth is that, beyond divided opinions, the topic managed to establish itself as one of the tournament’s first viral controversies, showing that even off the field the World Cup is also played out in the global conversation.