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One World with Zain Asher
Soon: Football's Biggest Tournament Kicks Off; Trump warns U.S. Will Strike Iran "Very Hard Tonight"; Battle Raging Across U.S. Over A.I. Data Centers; Mexico Getting Ready To Host Tournament's Opening Match; Crowds Set Buildings And Vehicles On Fire In Belfast. Aired 12-1p ET
Aired June 11, 2026 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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(CNN U.S. SIMULCAST)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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LYNDA KINKADE, CNN ANCHOR: Live from Atlanta, I'm Lynda Kinkade. You've been watching CNN's breaking news coverage of the situation at the
Pentagon, which officials now describe as a hazardous materials incident. Fortunately, we now know it was a sensor malfunction, and the lockdown has
been lifted.
Well, I want to go to today's other news. The FIFA World Cup kicks off today. And after years of planning, dozens of countries are fighting for
victory. And the countless dreams of fans worldwide.
They all come together in the next hour when the opening ceremony starts. And in less than three hours, the FIFA World Cup finally kicks off, Mexico,
which is co-hosting the tournament with the U.S. and Canada is where it all unfolds.
In an hour and a half Shakira and Burna Boy will take to the stage with the first of three opening ceremonies, one for each host nation.
Fans are currently descending on Mexico City and its iconic stadium, which you can see there. It's also where the national team take on South Africa
at 3:00 P.M. Eastern Time.
The tournament is not without controversy, of course, concerns over ticket prizes, security, and of course, the U.S. immigration policies. FIFA will
be hoping that for at least today, fans can be united by football.
Our Patrick Snell is from World Sport and covering the developments, joining us now. Patrick, great to see you.
So, Mexico, not just hosting they're opening the tournament in front of plenty of fans, for the first time in decades. What do you make of Mexico's
chances heading into this match?
PATRICK SNELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: Hi, Lynda. Can I first just say, we've been waiting for this moment for such a long time, years, in fact, the biggest
World Cup ever, three different nations hosting, as you say.
But for Mexico's fans, and I've got many good friends from Mexico. I play soccer with them week in week out, or at least I have done over the years.
And their passion for their national team is second to none. That means there's massive hopes and expectations around the nation, of course, that
has never won the World Cup.
But I tell you what, look at that magnificent stadium there. The iconic Azteca stadium. It's got a different name, of course, for this World Cup in
terms of rebranding purposes, but I tell you what, it's playing on home soil that brings out the best historically in El Tricolor.
In 1970, they got to the quarterfinals when it was hosted on home soil. And in 1986, they also got to the quarterfinals as well. So let me just tell
you massive expectations around them, especially given the fact that in 2022 in Qatar, they failed to get out the group stages as well. So they're
looking to make amends for that, having seven previous tournaments always got out the group stages. So there's definitely got to put that right from
terms of El Tricolor's perspective.
I like the look of their squad. It's a nice mix of vibrant, youthful players combined with wily old hands and I'm thinking up top as well, Raul
Jimenez as well, the veteran with an eye for gold. Looks good as well for him. He scored in the convincing five-one win over Serbia as well.
But also just let me elaborate more on this venue. I think of that 1970 World Cup. The legendary Pele as Brazil won the tournament, Pele. That team
rightly regarded as one of the best teams of all time, if not the best team of all time. Such great memories.
And then, of course, the moment in 1986 at that tournament in Mexico, the Hand of God, Diego Maradona, the moment that broke England's heart. So much
history, steeped in history everywhere you look.
But what more of the current modern day squad? Let's hear now from their head coach, just get a perspective on it all. Let's take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[12:15:11]
JAVIER AGUIRRE, MEXICO HEAD COACH (through translator): I've never felt such excitement in 50 years of football as I have at a World Cup on home
soil. I've experienced it all, but this is something unforgettable.
Those of you here who weren't even born yet will find out what it means. And that's what I've told the team. I think the message has got through. I
think I've convinced them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SNELL: Massive hopes and expectations as well. And, of course, opponent South Africa will be looking to play their part as well, be looking to do
well. This is the first time they've played in a World Cup since they hosted back in 2010, that's 16 years ago.
And by the way, the opening match of that tournament in 2010, the same one as this day, Lynda, in Mexico City.
KINKADE: Incredible. Patrick, do stay with us. I'm going to come back to you.
But I do want to go to some of our super fans right now and CNN anchors Paula Newton, Isa Soares, and Max Foster. They're making their own
predictions about how they think the World Cup will play out. So, who do they think will win? Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAULA NEWTON, CNN ANCHOR: Can I ask for help from the crowd? No. Like anybody? No.
ISA SOARES, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, I can't do a winner. I can't do.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ugh. What an amazing shot.
SOARES: I can't do a winner. This is awful.
MAX FOSTER, CNN ANCHOR: I'm not a great expert in the footballing --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, it's a goal.
FOSTER: -- prowess of any of these teams.
SOARES: Will I lose friends? Yes. I most likely will.
NEWTON: This is so tough, guys. I'm already nervous. And they haven't even started.
FOSTER: I mean --
SOARES: So --
NEWTON: This is how you get it done. Good juju for your team. OK?
SOARES: I think that Max will pick England for his final. Clearly very biased like me.
FOSTER: Well, I don't know why Paula is even involved in this because Canada is going nowhere.
NEWTON: I don't have any research or any football or soccer knowledge, but I make up for an enthusiasm.
SOARES: OK. There's no science. I'm just going to go with my guts. OK?
NEWTON: All right, here. Here we go. So, we're going to select here the first and second place teams in each group. So, this is easy, actually.
SOARES: I'm going to put Morocco first, Brazil second. I'm sorry, Brazil.
NEWTON: I'm going with Mexico first, South Korea a second.
FOSTER: Can I just ask you? They're playing each other at least two, aren't they? And those two.
SOARES: Now, select the eight best third place teams. Here we go.
NEWTON: They are telling me to select eight of the best third place teams. Isn't that easy?
FOSTER: Australia because they're always good at sport.
SOARES: I have put Scotland because my producer would be offended if I don't.
NEWTON: I'm going to go with South Africa.
FOSTER: So we're in the knockout round. I've nailed it, basically. And I am going to predict the winners of this entire tournament. So this is very
exciting here.
NEWTON: Ecuador and Senegal. This is so tough.
SOARES: Now, this would be a cracker of a game. Argentina or Uruguay, two massive rivals and neighbors. I would pay to watch that.
FOSTER: Brazil will beat the Netherlands, although the Netherlands could fluke it, but it is Brazil and they always come up trumps.
NEWTON: England and Mexico. You know, Mexico is going to be at home.
FOSTER: We're now into the final, all of a sudden.
NEWTON: This would be epic. We've got France and then I'm picking Brazil.
SOARES: This is not politics or foreign policy. This is just gut. So Portugal.
FOSTER: We are into the final. And Spain won.
NEWTON: I'm calling it here in New York and I have just completed my World Cup bracket. Brazil is going to take it all. Don't ask me why.
SOARES: I'm Isa Soares and the winner of this year's World Cup will be Portugal.
FOSTER: I'm Max Foster. Spain is going to win the World Cup if everything goes to plan. But, you know, anything can happen in the World Cup.
NEWTON: So remember, guys, spirit, stop being cynical. Keep repeating it to yourself. They're bringing it home.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: They are all very biased as am I. I think Australia is going to bring it home. Just quietly. I'll be closely watching the game next Friday
between Australia and the U.S.
Patrick, what is your prediction?
SNELL: Well, in that case, can I go for England? Because we haven't won since 1966. So I'm going to bring it.
KINKADE: It's a -- it's a long shot, but you should -- you should back them.
SNELL: I tell you what, I do think England will be a factor. But I'm going with Max. I think Max has called it. I think Max has called it. I think
Spain will be world champions again for the first time in 16 years.
[12:20:01]
Look, they have a stacked squat. I'm going to home in on kind of two nations that I think are assuring to go all the way. And then a couple of
nations that maybe not everyone is really giving too much attention to right now.
But I think the Spanish national team, they are led. They're just stacked with wonderful talent. And they're led, of course, by Lamine Yamal. He's
iconic, still a teenager. Plays his club football for Barcelona.
They open up right here in Atlanta on Monday. They take on Cape Verde, tournament debutant. So I think -- I do think Spain going all the way, but
I do think France are going to be a big, big factor as well.
France the 2018 world champions, they also got to the final four years ago in Qatar where they suffered heartbreak against Lionel Messi and Argentina.
Any -- any -- any team stacked Le Bleus with people like Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele are going to be a factor in this tournament. There's no
question about that.
They've also involved, as me -- they're involved for me in the match of the tournament. They take on Norway and Erling Haaland. I'll get to Erling
Haaland just a bit in a moment.
Mentioning England, just a quick flick at England, 66 winners under the astute leadership now, head coach, the German Thomas Tuchel as well.
I don't see the English being too attack minded. I think they're going to be rock solid and robust when you got decked in the right in midfield. I
think they're going to be a really hard team to beat, England. I was telling that to my dad yesterday. England will be very, very hard to beat.
And they got Croatia on June the 17th. That's their opener. They've also got Ghana as well in -- in that group.
I want to mention Japan as well because I was looking at Japan squad earlier. I think the Japanese national team, wonderful talent, lovely,
lovely mix of players, youth and experience.
The problem with Japan is I was in the tournament in Asia when it was hosted there for the first time when they co-hosted with South Korea. They
did get out the group stages there for the first time, but they can't get beyond the last 16.
They've never been to the quarter finals. I do feel that this could be their time. They've got some wonderful talent as well. They got the
captain, Wataru Endo, who plays for Liverpool. Steeped and experienced many of their players now, many of their top players play in Europe. So I'm
expecting really good things from Japan.
And I just want to finish up by going back to the Norwegian national team led, of course, by Erling Haaland. We know that there's a very good
likelihood this was ahead of the tournament, and what a statement, what an image that went viral that moment there when they had their squad reveal.
There's a great chance that Haaland, if he stays fit, can reprise his Manchester City form and could quite easily become the top scorer of this
World Cup. So Norway definitely wants to keep an eye on as well. Holland, Japan, that's on Sunday. That's one I'm looking forward to as well.
There's so much to get our feast our hands on this, Lynda. The tournament's finally up and running. It's been a long time in the making, I'm telling
you.
But let me just ask you, why are you going for Australia?
KINKADE: I mean, why wouldn't I?
SNELL: Why would you?
KINKADE: Their form has improved in the last, you know, little while. The last warm-up matches. They're doing much better. So I'm hoping they can
take down the U.S. next Friday.
SNELL: Well, yes. I think that should be a good game. I just, you know, we went the whole hit without mentioning Argentina, the reigning world
champions. Keep an eye on them.
KINKADE: That is true. That is true.
SNELL: They've won their last seven. They've won their last seven warm-up games. And they got Lionel Messi. I'm not making them an outright favorite
to win it, but they should never be discarded. Back to you.
KINKADE: That is true. And -- and you just chat to Lionel Messi, so.
SNELL: I got a one -- I got a one question into Lionel Messi. I wouldn't call it a chat, but it was a one question.
KINKADE: It counts. It counts.
SNELL: It does.
KINKADE: Patrick Snell, great to see you. Good to have you with us. We will be chatting no doubt throughout the World Cup.
Of course, I want to go to Mexico's key supporter, CNN's Valeria Leon. She joins us from outside the stadium, Mexico City. Good to have you there for
us. No doubt the atmosphere, excitement building two and a half hours to go.
VALERIA LEON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Lynda, this is the largest fan fest of the tournament. And this is just a whole (INAUDIBLE). Thousands of people have
tagged this fan fest to watch the opening game for this World Cup.
And this is the giant, 510 square meter screen where the fans can watch this opening match. There are tourists from around the world here, of
course, rooting for Mexico.
And this guys are coming from Australia. How do you decide to come to Mexico City?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I (INAUDIBLE) loving it. I love it. It's great. I love it. I love it.
LEON: What do you feel of this fan fest, decorations surrounding this?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's unreal. It's unreal. It's the best thing ever. It's so good.
LEON: So it's the part of the reactions of the fans over here. We have these big stage over there for the live tonight's performance. Banda El
Recodo, which is the mother of all bands here in Mexico.
[12:25:00]
And just people are super excited here with big Mexican flags waving. And it's just a whole party over here, Lynda.
KINKADE: Yes. So many smiling faces now. And I'm glad you found an Australian in the crowd. No doubt there are many Australians at all these
games. We have a keen soccer loving country.
But I have to ask you if you've been speaking to fans that, you know, I have to save up a lot of money just to get a ticket to some of these games
or to travel to some of these host cities.
LEON: Absolutely. Tickets are out of reach for many Mexicans visitors. And that's why this fan fest is so important for a lot of them -- for all of
them. It has a capacity over 50,000 people.
And it's expected to receive thousands of visitors, not only today for the opening match, but for the 39 days, 104 World Cup matches that many fans
can watch right here from this giant screen.
So this is where the World Cup is going to be dealt, Lynda.
KINKADE: I love the excitement. I love the energy. All the best to you and your home team today in the coming hours. We're checking with you again
soon. Thanks so much. Valeria Leon.
We're going to take a quick break. Much more news to come. Stay with us. You're watching CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Welcome back to "One World." I'm Lynda Kinkade. Great to have you with us.
Well, U.S. president Donald Trump says Iran will face bigger and more powerful military strikes in the coming hours.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Yes. There will be more bombing tonight. It'll be a -- a bigger, bigger, more powerful. Don't
forget. We've knocked out all of their anti-aircraft. They don't have any anti -- they have nothing. I mean, they may get lucky with a shoulder
weapon or something, but for the most part, you know, they -- they have no -- they have no defense.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What did the representative say in your phone call with them?
TRUMP: They are finished. Excuse me. They are finished.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[12:30:07]
KINKADE: Hours earlier, he posted on social media threatening to take control of Iran's Kharg Island which handles roughly 90 percent of Iran's
crude oil exports. Iran is vowing to deliver a firm crushing and painful response if the U.S. attacks that island
It comes as Washington and Tehran trade strikes for a second day in a row. Iran says it targeted American bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan and
called the temporary ceasefire essentially meaningless.
Iran also says that the Strait of Hormuz is now closed to all vessels, a claim that the U.S. denies.
Well, in his latest piece, CNN politics senior reporter, Stephen Collinson takes a closer look at why President Trump is once again turning to
military force as he tries to pressure Iran.
He joins us now from Washington. Great to be with us, Stephen.
STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN POLITICS SENIOR REPORTER: Hi.
KINKADE: So you've written that the administration continues returning to ideas that military pressure will finally force Iran to, you know, curtail
to U.S. commands to U.S. terms. But after months of this, is there any evidence that the strategy is working?
COLLINSON: Not so far. And, you know, after the relentless bombardment of several weeks right at the start of this war between the Israelis -- from
the Israelis and the Americans, Iran didn't bow to U.S. terms then. Since then, it's had time to reconstitute its military somewhat.
And now we're going to a second round of strikes. And the U.S. seems to be trying again the same thing that hasn't worked, which is to try to bomb
Iran back to the negotiation table.
Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of Defense, said yesterday that what this was about was not restarting the war, but trying to improve the U.S.
negotiating position.
So far, in the initial responses from Iran, that doesn't seem to have happened. What has happened now and what has happened in the past is that
Iran gets more entrenched and less trestle that it could do a deal with the United States.
So, I think a lot of this depends on whether the action escalates. Can the U.S. punishing Iran in a way that has not done so far?
The president has been talking this morning about possibly trying to seize Kharg Island, where 90 percent of Iran's oil exports go. That would be a
significant step. It would require U.S. boots on the ground, a real escalation of the war, and possibly significant U.S. casualties, which is
why the president hasn't tried this before.
So, I think there's a lot of uncertainty, threats and more attacks are coming from the United States. The question is, does it change Iran's
position?
KINKADE: Yes. Kharg Island, of course, the economic lifeline of the regime. The U.S. president has threatened to -- to -- to target that before. But as
you noted, like he just recently said that America can't stomach that.
I want to get your perspective on the fact that we've seen this alternating view from the president, sometimes declaring victory or saying they're
moments away from a deal, to then predicting peace and then threatening military action.
What does that do for America's diplomatic position incredibility?
COLLINSON: Yes. And it's very hard to tell exactly what is the U.S. position. Let's face it, earlier this week, the president was saying that
he was going to get the Strait of Hormuz opening two to three days, and there was going to be a deal. He very heavily leaned on Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to retaliate to Iranian missile attacks.
Then days later, there he is, ordering U.S. forces to send precision munitions into various Iranian targets.
So I think it's symptomatic of the president's frustration that Iran hasn't been to his terms and won't do a deal, despite the fact he keeps telling
everyone that Iran is desperate to -- to do a deal, which seems to be flying in the face of the evidence.
And I think it is also symptomatic of the trap that the president is in. If he escalates, for example, ordering an operation to seize Kharg Island,
that will send oil markets into a frenzy. It will double down on the massive economic damage that has already been done by this war. That will
crank up the political heat on him.
And it will contradict his claims to Americans that this is not a long war and that he wasn't going to use boots on the ground.
But in the absence of an escalation, he doesn't seem to be able to convince the Iranians, at this point at least, that they should come to do a deal on
his terms.
So, he's kind of going around and around in circles, grappling for a way out of this. And let's face it, this was a war that the White House said
would be about four to six weeks. Now, we're well over three months.
KINKADE: And, of course, you know, the death toll is rising. We just saw that the Indian government says that a U.S. strike killed three of their
citizens after it hit a tanker. India, of course, has lodged a formal protest with Washington.
[12:35:13]
How could this further spill out? I mean, we're not just talking about a regional war now, but, you know, we're talking about other countries that
are seeing a loss of life that aren't even involved in this conflict.
COLLINSON: Yes. And, you know, first of all, the -- the -- the fear is that this round of attacks will mushroom into a much bigger war. You'll see
missile and drone attacks of a higher grade on U.S. Gulf allies.
The case of the Indian ship is an interesting one, because India was one of the triumphs, if you like, of President Trump's first administration. He
brought the U.S. closer to India, but there have been various spats over oil exports. India's purchasing of Russian oil and the relationship really
has gone south with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who the president insists is one of his great friends on the international stage.
So, what this war has done is it showed us how it's alienated a lot of partners who are key targets of U.S. foreign policies, really pushed the
Indians away from the United States. And the United States have been trying to court India as a kind of bulwark to China in the Pacific as a key part
of its Asia strategy.
So, this war is having massive reverberations, as you say, well beyond the epicenter of the attacks in the Gulf of Hormuz -- and Strait of Hormuz and
in the Gulf.
KINKADE: Exactly.
Stephen Collinson, always great to get your analysis. Thanks for joining us.
COLLINSON: Thanks.
KINKADE: The explosive growth of artificial intelligence requires massive amounts of energy. A U.N. report warns that A.I. could consume three
percent of global electricity and use more water than the world needs to drink in just a few years.
Well, residents across the U.S. are fighting to keep data centers out of their backyards. CNN's Shimon Prokupecz has reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RON GIBSON, INDIANAPOLIS CITY-COUNTY COUNCIL: One, two, three, four.
SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ron Gibson counts the bullet holes in his front door.
GIBSON: Twelve, 13, 14, 15. And it was a sign that someone conveniently put up under the Indianapolis (INAUDIBLE) mat and said, there's no data center.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): Gibson is an Indianapolis city counselor targeted, he says, for supporting a data center in his community.
GIBSON: At some point that night after midnight, we heard loud banging on glass and glass breaking.
I didn't realize that my house had been shot up until daylight. And I saw this door and I could see through the door out. I mean, I could see
daylight was coming through the door.
Really touching to me was my son's Lego set was on the dining room table where the bullets went around. And I like to think about it. I wonder if
he'd have been in that space at that time of night. Scary stuff.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You better vote no. You better vote no.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): The political backlash to data centers has been fierce nationwide, aided by the rise and fear of artificial intelligence.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We don't need it. We need water.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): In Utah, residents are fighting a proposed 40,000 acre data center that when combined is twice the size of Manhattan.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Maybe this decision should be made after the election.
PROKUPECZ: So meetings like this in Union, Missouri are happening all across the country and really showing the fear and concern.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The burdens would stay local. The profits will leave town. We're asking you please stop this theft and rape now.
PROKUPECZ: What could a data center do to a community like this?
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): To find out, we traveled 850 miles from Union, Missouri to a place already familiar with data centers. Loudoun County,
Virginia, outside D.C., this is Data Center Alley.
PROKUPECZ: Just in this area alone, there are over 200 buildings that contain data centers, some 50 million square feet, enough to fit eight
pentagons.
BUDDY RIZER, EXEC. DIRECTOR, LOUDOUN COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Having even one data center can double the amount of tax revenue. We've been able
to build 30 some schools and 15 fire stations and six libraries.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): But not everything went right.
GREG PIRIO, LIVES NEAR DATA CENTER: It is like having constant jet airplanes flying overhead.
PROKUPECZ: Because you can hear it right now, right?
PIRIO: Yes, yes.
PROKUPECZ: Like, take a listen here, right? This is --
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): That hum you hear, that's coming from this, a massive data center just feet from these homes.
PROKUPECZ: What's it like when you're trying to sleep?
ETHAN DOUE, LIVES NEAR DATA CENTER: It's like a July 4th fireworks going on.
HARI DOUE, MOTHER AND HOMEOWNER: Last night, my son Lucas got up in the middle of the night and said he couldn't sleep and came into our room. So
it is affecting their sleep and they have to go to school.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): There's another problem.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If it was a southern wind today, all that would be blowing right over this. Our houses.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): Diesel backup generators, when they're tested, they pollute.
[12:40:03]
PIRIO: Those are the days in particular that I feel irritation in my throat.
PROKUPECZ: How do you respond to them?
RIZER: It's a very unfortunate situation because when it was built and approved, it was intended to be on the grid. Then in 2022, we had Dominion
tell us, well, we're out of power. They had already built and leased the building. And so the only solution for them was the gas turbines.
It is a temporary situation. Eventually, the power will be delivered to the site, but that doesn't help them tonight when they're trying to get to
sleep.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're opening a Pandora's Box that can't be closed.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): Back in Missouri, they're fighting two proposed new data center campuses in Franklin County. Bill Hubbard's century old farm is
next to one of them. Recent reports about a Georgia data center draining water from nearby farms has Hubbard worried.
BILL HUBBARD, FARM OWNER: They say they're not going to drill wells. All these guarantees, you know, 737s weren't supposed to crash.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): The company behind one of the campuses says, they won't tax local resources.
ROMAN PASEWICZ, PROVIDENT DATA CENTERS: We're developing a closed-loop water system, so it conserves water. We believe we could develop them in a
conscious way, getting feedback from the community.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): Most here are like the Hubbards. They worry because the land is their life.
HUBBARD: This is home. There's no amount of money that could get me to sell this. No amount of money.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): Shimon Prokupecz, CNN, Union, Missouri.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back with much more news. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Welcome back. I'm Lynda Kinkade.
The moment football fans have been waiting for is finally here. FIFA's 2026 World Cup. And we are just hours away from the first game of football's
biggest ever tournament. Mexico will take on South Africa in Mexico City.
But before the game begins, the star started opening ceremony will kick festivities into high gear. Pop star Shakira and Burna Boy are expected to
light up the stage, adding plenty of music and energy to one of the biggest celebrations on the sport's calendar.
And as Mexico City is getting ready for its big moment, Our Valeria Leon speaks to a super fan who is preparing for his 11th World Cup.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
LEON (voice-over): Football fever is sweeping through the Mexican capital as the country prepares to co-host the World Cup.
[12:45:04]
And no one is readier than Hector Chavez, better known as El Caramelo. He has followed the
Mexican national team to 531 matches across 53 countries.
And this summer he'll attend his 11th World Cup.
HECTOR CHAVEZ "CARAMEL", MEXICAN FOOTBALL FAN (through translator): Caramelo dreams of reaching the final. Every World Cup brings hope. Every
World Cup is a dream.
LEON: Today, he's a celebrity of sorts. Mexicans stop him for photos, as do visitors from around the world.
ANDRE THOMSEN, BRITISH TOURIST IN MEXICO: In England originally, we have a lot of characters like this. And the first one I saw here, so I thought,
yes, I have to have a picture.
LEON: Caramelo is impossible to miss. He wears a suit inspired by the Mexican flag and a traditional charro hat covered with stamps from every
World Cup he has attended.
KARLUIS ROBIEDO, FAN FROM CHIAPAS (through translator): He's a symbol. People identify him by the hat. In Mexico, that's part of who we are. The
Mexican hat is a fundamental part of his personality.
LEON: But behind the hat, the suit and the fame is a man whose World Cup dream began decades ago.
He still keeps the tickets that started it all, the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, where he got a glimpse of his father among fans on television,
inspiring a lifelong passion for the game.
CHAVEZ (through translator): My father was at the Estadio Jalisco when the T.V. cameras suddenly found him in a crowd. I remember being at my
grandmother's house and hearing everyone say, "Your dad, your dad. There he is. Look."
LEON: For many visitors, that passion is part of the attraction.
Why did you decide to come to Mexico City for this World Cup?
THOMSEN: Well, we had fighting three choices, Canada, America, or Mexico. Politically, not so happy with the America at the moment. Canada is on our
list, but Mexico, we've always wanted to come. We've heard about the people, the food. We've only been here a day and a half and hasn't
disappointed so far.
LEON: And that's exactly what Caramelo hopes the world will see, Mexican fans turning every match into a celebration.
(CHANTING)
Valerio Leon, CNN, Mexico City.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: And for some more fans, CNN's Ivan Rodriguez has this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
IVAN RODRIGUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (VOICE-OVER): Part of what makes a World Cup special comes down to human connection.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So many different types of people from so many different walks of life.
RODRIGUEZ (voice-over): David Stoddart (PH) from the U.S. and Tan Tai Tran (PH) from Germany. met only hours ago, but have one thing in common.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm -- had a high for this World Cup.
RODRIGUEZ (voice-over): Love for the game.
RODRIGUEZ: German but with the Mexico jersey.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of course, I mean --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's still under that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just bought it -- I just bought it like 20 minutes ago.
RODRIGUEZ (voice-over): At a local sports bar, a group of Irish friends originally booked a trip to Mexico City with the hope of seeing their
national team in action. Even though they didn't qualify, they didn't want to miss living the experience.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's the most watched tournament in the planet like so. It's supposed -- we all love football. We are watching every weekend, but
it's the club tournament's around. This only happens once every four years, why not?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In Mexico, they all breed football. They love football. It's what they think of it. Like when you see tourists, the tourists are
going to be amazing.
RODRIGUEZ (voice-over): Many museums, throughout Mexico City, are also incorporating the FIFA World Cup with new exhibits.
Museo Yancuic currently houses the largest collection of football memorabilia in Latin America with more than 300 authentic pieces, including
jerseys and cleats worn by legends from around the world like Pele.
Curators at the museum say, it's all about building community.
ARANTXA ROQUET ARCINIEGA, CURATOR, MUSEO YANCUIC (voice-over): We can also find in this exhibit moments of community where the aim is to make visible
the diversity within soccer and the fact that soccer brings people together.
RODRIGUEZ (voice-over): I'm Ivan Rodriguez reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Well, we're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back with much more news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:50:30]
KINKADE: Welcome back.
Police in Northern Ireland deployed a water cannon against protesters. This is the second night of anti-immigration violence fled in Belfast. The anger
stems from a stabbing attack in which the victim lost an eye. The suspect, a Sudanese man, has been charged with attempted murder. Police say at least
16 people have been arrested, 12 officers injured.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RYAN HENDERSON, ASSISTANT CHIEF CONSTABLE, POLICE SERVICE OF NORTHERN IRELAND: My message, my clear message to those who have taken part in
violence, are of thinking of taking to our streets. The stakes for you are high.
We'll bring you the justice. And I know the judiciary in Northern Ireland stands ready to give long sentences to those bringing disorder to our
streets.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Officials say protesters have set fire to homes and vehicles, targeting mostly ethnic minorities, leaving dozens of people homeless.
CNN international diplomatic editor, Nic Robertson, takes a closer look at how it began.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR (voice-over): At its dangerous peak Tuesday night, police rescuing Belfast residents as their
homes torched in a night of anti-immigrant rioting gripping Northern Ireland.
A neighborhood bus set on fire amid scenes of some of the worst violence across the U.K.'s troubled province in years.
At times, angry mobs of masked men roamed streets unchecked, smashing houses, apparently searching for migrants.
The violence smoldering through the night as riot police clashed with rock throwing youths in multiple towns. At least two policemen injured, several
people arrested.
Northern Ireland's police chief, ramping up his forces in readiness for worse.
CHIEF CONSTABLE JON BOUTCHER, POLICE SERVICE OF NORTHERN IRELAND: We will be on the streets tonight in numbers even more than we were last night. And
we have got arrangements in hand to get mutual aid that will be arriving here tomorrow.
And we're looking to get a further some 200 officers to get on the streets to deal with this.
ROBERTSON (voice-over): The rioting triggered by a knife attack Monday night where the victim, Stephen Ogilvie, was saved by neighbors but lost an
eye, according to authorities, and remains in hospital in critical condition with head and neck injuries.
The suspect, named in a Belfast court Wednesday as Hadi Alodid, a 30- year- old Sudanese refugee who authorities say was legally in the U.K. and was charged with attempted murder. Other immigrants in Belfast now concerned
for their safety.
ANSELME SHIMA, BELFAST RESIDENT FROM DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: I'm afraid maybe I might be the next to be attacked on the street, so I don't
know where to take my family, my children, who is nine years old, who is asking me every question that crosses his mind. And I don't know how to
answer him. I don't know. Maybe I'm the next.
ROBERTSON (voice-over): The British prime minister calling for calm at a time when the U.K. is being tested by divisions over immigration.
KEIR STARMER, U.K. PRIME MINISTER: But let me be clear, Mr. Speaker. The acts of violence and arson that followed are totally unjustified. We are
united in calling for calm and determined to restore order.
ROBERTSON (voice-over): Last year, anti-immigrant riots lasted five days. In Northern Ireland, tensions are easily combustible. The legacy of
grievances from 30 years of sectarian bloodletting, a generation ago has left easy kindling and a know-how for fiery rioting.
[12:55:14]
Adding to concerns, violence could escalate further, some anti- immigrant mainland U.K. campaigners have already come to Belfast. Others posting on
social media.
BOUTCHER: It's very easy, these days especially, to look online and be persuaded by people who know nothing about Northern Ireland.
Stop listening to these idiots. We will be going after them for the incitement that they've been doing.
ROBERTSON (voice-over): But by late afternoon Wednesday, fears of more violence realized. Police using water cannon to keep protesters at bay. A
second night of rioting erupting. Young men pitted against police again.
Nic Robertson, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Well, that does it for this edition of "One World." I'm Lynda Kinkade. Thanks for your company. Stay with us. "Amanpour" is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:00:00]
END
