• Stellar lineup – The opening ceremony on June 11, 11:30 a.m. will feature performances by Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules, Maná and Tyla.

• Chivas leads the way – No club is contributing more players to Mexico’s World Cup roster than Guadalajara’s own Chivas. The five selected are Raúl Rangel, Luis Romo, Brian Gutiérrez, Roberto Alvarado and Armando González.

• Goodbye Akron – For sponsorship reasons, FIFA does not allow commercial stadium names. So during the tournament, Chivas’ home will be known as Estadio Guadalajara, not the Estadio Akron.

• El Vasco’s third stint – Javier Aguirre, 67, is back for his third World Cup as Mexico’s coach, having previously led the team in 2002 and 2010. He played in 1986 when Mexico reached the quarter-finals.

• The 9-to-1 rule – For every peso a World Cup visitor spends on lodging in Guadalajara, the total economic impact is nine pesos, according to city officials, keen to dismiss criticism that the economic benefits of being a host city are minimal.

• The ugly chant that won’t die – Mexico’s persistent homophobic chant when opposing goalkeepeers take goal kicks has cost its soccer federation another 140,000 Swiss franc fine (US$178,000). While efforts are being made to persuade fans to refrain from the chant during the World Cup, it seems unlikely they will succeed, and further sanctions are probable.

• Making history – Mexico’s Guillermo Ochoa, 40, will become the first goalkeeper to appear in six World Cups. This time, however, he will likely be on the bench as the second or third choice keeper.

• The end of an era – Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, has confirmed this will be his last World Cup (also his sixth). And Argentina’s Lionel Messi, 38, is also expected to retire from the tournament after this edition. Enjoy these soccer legends while you can.