The most hyperbolic World Cup, with 48 teams, 104 matches and three host countries – and also that of a country at war with one of its participants – begins with a deportation in Miami: by decision of the United States he had to return to his country, where he was received as a hero. The world is more generous on the pitch: the first goal was scored by a Colombian, Julián Quiñones, who plays for Mexico, one of the 289 footballers – out of a total of 1,248, 23.3% – who represent a country different from the one in which they were born. The Mexican wave, the ole, the and the mariachi hats in the air celebrate at the Azteca, a unique stadium of its kind, the most World Cup stadium on the planet. In Guadalajara, the Czechs return to the World Cup after 20 years but it is as if they had stayed in Prague. .
