Shakira has been going viral for her performance at the FIFA 2026 World Cup opening ceremony. While videos of her performances were circulating online, theories and debates started going on about whether it was actually Shakira or not. Fan theories started running amok, with many pointing out that the performer was not Shakira, and in fact a body double.Read ahead to know more about the matter and whether there is any truth to the claims or not.
Shakira’s body double theory
As photos and videos of the veteran singer performing ‘Dai Dai’ along with Burna Boy surfaced online, fans and netizens could not stop raving about her performance. However, many people pointed out that the singer may not have actually performed the show and was instead replaced by a Chilean stunt double.Many people posted about the same and pointed out the difference between Shakira and the alleged body double, with one social media user posting, “Those teeth are different. The abdomen, the legs, the dancing, the attitude, the way of positioning the head with respect to the shoulders, etc.”Another person posted, “Why is she wearing sunglasses? Her face does not look like her idk why”, while a third netizen commented, “That’s not Shakira. Watch how she messes up the step when she sings Dai Dai… That’s a double. Shakira lied to everyone.” Another person posted screenshots from videos of her performance and added, “They replaced Shakira, I don’t have proof, but I also don’t have doubts.”
Shakira’s body double theory decoded: Did the ‘Dai Dai’ singer really perform at FIFA opening ceremony? Here’s what we know
Fans decode the theory and reassure that it was, in fact, Shakira
While many netizens pointed out that it may not be Shakira performing, many of her fans pointed out that the singer had absolutely no reason to do so. Many shared behind the scene photos that the singer had posted online and stated that it was the same person.One person commented about the matter and wrote in their post that “After a thorough investigation into the rumours that the person who appeared today is not Shakira, I’ll tell you what the expert fans say: they assure that it is indeed her. They mention a scar on her forehead, she looks tall because she’s wearing sneakers with a higher sole, and she appears thinner. As for her face, they consider that the swelling attributed to Botox would be an additional factor, and that would explain the use of the glasses.”Another person reposted the video of her performance and wrote, “True fans know it was Shakira, for sure! And whoever thinks it was the Chilean is totally delusional”, while another shared joked about the matter and wrote, “Shakira used to battle rumors of taking out her ribs now it’s a body double. We are so back!”There are no other confirmations or indications that it was not the singer but a body double who was performing in her place as of right now. Not only that, but fans have decoded the theory multiple times, with many also mentioning that she simply had a beauty procedure done recently, however, the swelling from the treatment seems to have not gotten down, hence the reason for the glassed during the performance.Shakira recently took the stage in Mexico to commemorate the beginning of FIFA 2026 World Cup with the opening ceremony, where she performed the official song of the event, ‘Dai Dai’, alongside Burna Boy.
