The head of the Football Federation of Turkmenistan, Guvanchmuhammed Ovekov, attended the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the invitation of FIFA. The tournament kicked off on June 11 at the “Azteca” stadium with a match between the national teams of Mexico and South Africa, according to the news website Turkmenportal.
As part of the opening ceremony, a colorful show featuring local and international artists was held. The highlight of the event was FIFA President Gianni Infantino appearing with the World Cup trophy. Before the match, flags of FIFA member countries were raised at the stadium, including the flag of Turkmenistan.
The Turkmenistan national team failed to qualify for the final stage of the tournament, ending its campaign in the second round of the Asian qualifiers. The World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will conclude on July 19. For the first time in history, 48 teams are participating in the tournament.