Shakira and Burna Boy headline the World Cup 2026 opening ceremony, performing “Dai Dai” at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup opened with a vibrant ceremony at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca. Shakira and Burna Boy headlined the event, performing the tournament's official song "Dai Dai" for over 80,000 fans ahead of the Mexico vs South Africa opener.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup don officially begin with a spectacular opening ceremony at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Over 80,000 spectators filled the historic venue as a 20-minute show blending Mexican culture with international music talent set the stage for football's biggest tournament.
Shakira and Burna Boy headlined the ceremony, delivering an energetic first live performance of "Dai Dai," the tournament's official song. The Colombian superstar, appearing in a striking yellow bodysuit, brought her signature dance moves to the stage she last graced in 2018, while Burna Boy joined her midway through the performance, both artists standing on a giant turquoise and gold flag bearing the words "We are ready" . The performance ended with a spectacular fireworks display in Mexico's national colors.
Shakira's appearance marks her fourth contribution to a World Cup, following "Hips Don't Lie – Bamboo" in Germany 2006, "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" in South Africa 2010, and "La La La" in Brazil 2014. As e be now, she don become one of the tournament's most recognizable musical figures.
Before the explosive Shakira-Burna Boy finale, the ceremony featured performances from a diverse lineup of artists. Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli performed "DNA," the official World Cup anthem, blending opera with electronic music. J Balvin, Ryan Castro, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules, Maná, Belinda, and Danny Ocean all contributed to the 45-minute show. Alejandro Fernández performed the Mexican national anthem, while South African pop star Tyla sang "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika". Actress Salma Hayek, a World Cup 2026 ambassador, also appeared to welcome fans.
The ceremony transformed the stadium into a visual spectacle, with dancers moving around a giant model of the World Cup trophy and fireworks illuminating the night sky. As football fever spread across the Azteca, the crowd shifted focus to the pitch for the highly anticipated Group A opener between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa.
This year's opening ceremony marks a historic first for the World Cup, with two additional ceremonies scheduled across the other host nations. Canada and the United States will hold their own opening events ahead of their opening matches, with Toronto and Los Angeles hosting star-studded shows featuring Michael Bublé, Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, Blackpink's Lisa, and Rema . FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the three ceremonies as bringing "together music, culture and football in a way that reflects both the individuality of each nation and the unity that defines this tournament". The Estadio Azteca now awaits the tournament's next chapter, with Mexico set to continue their campaign against South Korea and the Czech Republic in Group A.
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