A star-studded opening ceremony featuring Shakira, Burna Boy and J Balvin kicked off the 2026 World Cup before a crowd of more than 80,000 at the revamped Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. Mexico opened the 48-team tournament against South Africa as the competition began amid escalating protests and social tensions in the capital.
2026 World Cup opening ceremony
The ceremony began with a colourful showcase of traditional Mexican culture, featuring folkloric dancers, stunning visual displays and performances.The event set the tone for what can be described as the largest World Cup in history, jointly hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada.
2026 World Cup begins on musical note
Music took centre stage throughout the evening. Mexican cumbia icons Los Angeles Azules joined forces with pop star Belinda, delighting fans with their performance, singing their latest song for the FIFA World Cup album.Danny Ocean also enthralled audiences with his performance, having contributed ‘Partidazo’ to the official World Cup 2026 album.Moving forward, Colombian stars J Balvin and Ryan Castro energised the crowd with a joint performance of their biggest hits.Before closing out, Balvin treated the audience to his global smash hit ‘I Like It’, offering a thrilling finish.One of the night’s major highlights came when legendary Mexican rock band Mana took the stage. Thousands of fans sang along as the group performed its beloved 1992 classic, “Oye Mi Amor,” transforming the stadium into a massive chorus.
Shakira headlines World Cup opening ceremony
Last but not least, the grand opening ceremony saw global pop queen Shakira performing the much-awaited ‘Dai Dai, which is the tournament’s official anthem.She was joined on stage by Nigerian music sensation Burna Boy, setting the perfect tone for football’s biggest celebration.Shakira not only crooned the football anthem but also captivated the crowd with her signature dance moves at Mexico City’s iconic Azteca Stadium.Before “Dai Dai,” the Colombian superstar co-wrote and performed “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” featuring Freshlyground, the official anthem of the 2010 FIFA World Cup held in South Africa.
Shakira on making World Cup songs
“Fútbol is a thing that unites so many cultures and people of different walks of life,” she told the AP. “The big responsibility of making a World Cup song is that you’ve got to make a song that represents people’s feelings, emotions, and passion.”“So you’ve got to write that song, in a way, understanding that it has to be global. It has to encompass so many cultures and represent so many in one tune,” Shakira continued. “That, in a way, has helped me craft those songs in the past.”But beyond those conceptual ideas, Shakira has some specific sonic suggestions as well.“I feel like a good World Cup song needs to definitely have rhythm. It has to be rhythmic. It has to make people want to dance. And it has to be an anthem as well. It has to make people want to sing along in unison, sing out loud at the top of their lungs. It also has that kind of energy,” she says. “That’s a must.”
