List of FIFA World Cup opening matches
The FIFA [World Cup] is an international association football competition established in 1930 [FIFA World Cup|1930]. It is contested by the List of men's national [association football teams|men's national teams] of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association, the sport's global governing body. The tournament has taken place every four years, except in 1942 and 1946, when the competition was cancelled due to World War II.
The World Cup opening match is the first of the competition. Opening match regulations have changed many times. Between 1974 and 2002, the defending champions were involved in the opening match. Since 2006, as the defending champions no longer qualify automatically, the opening matches involve the host nations.