Shakira Lights Up Mexico as the 2026 World Cup Opens With Music, Fireworks and Football Drama

The 2026 FIFA World Cup began not with a quiet whistle, but with a roar.

At the Mexico City Stadium on June 11, Colombian pop superstar Shakira returned to the World Cup stage in spectacular fashion, joining Nigerian star Burna Boy to perform “Dai Dai,” the official song of the tournament. The performance launched the first chapter of a historic World Cup hosted across Mexico, Canada and the United States, setting the tone for a competition bigger in scale, wider in reach and richer in cultural symbolism than any before it.

Before Mexico faced South Africa in the opening match, the stadium transformed into a global stage. Dancers swept across the pitch, a giant model of the World Cup trophy became the visual centerpiece, and fireworks streaked through the air as the 80,000-strong crowd responded with thunderous applause.

“It’s already a party in Mexico,” Ingrid Orozco, a 40-year-old supporter, told AFP.

For Gustavo Ramirez, 19, the moment needed fewer words.

“It’s amazing,” he said.

A World Cup Opening Built Around Music and Identity

Shakira’s appearance carried special weight. The Colombian singer is already closely linked with World Cup culture, most famously through “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” the global anthem of the 2010 tournament in South Africa. In Mexico City, she returned not as a nostalgic guest, but as one of the central figures of the 2026 tournament’s cultural launch.

Performing “Dai Dai” with Burna Boy, Shakira helped connect Latin pop, Afrobeats and football pageantry in a ceremony designed to reflect the global character of the expanded tournament. Her neon yellow bodysuit and sunglasses gave the performance a bright, futuristic energy, while Burna Boy appeared in denim as the two artists delivered one of the ceremony’s defining moments.

Following the performance, Shakira used Instagram to frame the tournament around a broader message of opportunity and unity.

“Above all, may we remember our little champions who are waiting for opportunities, such as education, so they can thrive in life. We are ready!” she wrote.

That message aligned with the wider symbolism of the event: a World Cup presented not only as a football competition, but as a shared global celebration involving music, culture and social aspiration.

Salma Hayek Welcomes the World to Mexico

The ceremony also featured Mexican actress Salma Hayek, who served as a 2026 World Cup ambassador. Wearing a red pantsuit, she delivered opening remarks at Estadio Azteca before the first match between Mexico and South Africa.

“Together with Canada and the United States, we welcome the entire world as we receive the flags of the 48 nations that have qualified for the FIFA World Cup Mexico 2026,” she said in Spanish. “We are deeply honored that the opening match of this wonderful football tradition — which unites us all and lives on in Mexico and in the spirit of the game — is taking place here.

“Viva México y viva Fútbol,” she concluded.

Her words captured the historic nature of the moment. The 2026 World Cup is the first edition to feature 48 teams, and the first to be staged across three host nations. Mexico, already one of football’s most passionate countries, had the honor of opening the tournament before the celebrations moved north to Canada and the United States.

A Star-Studded Ceremony Before the First Kick

Shakira and Burna Boy were the headline attraction, but they were far from the only performers. The Mexico City ceremony included a wide-ranging lineup that blended Latin music, global pop, opera and national pride.

J Balvin brought a lively medley of hits, including “Que Calor,” before welcoming Castro on stage for a duet of their new track “Una A La Vez.” Legendary maestro Andrea Bocelli performed “DNA” alongside EJAE, from their collaboration also featuring Megan Thee Stallion and David Guetta.

Tyla delivered a rendition of the South African national anthem, while Alejandro Fernández performed the Mexican national anthem, adding emotional weight before the opening match.

Other names associated with the opening celebrations included Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules and Maná, making the event one of the most musically diverse opening ceremonies in recent World Cup history.

Mexico Turns Ceremony Energy Into Opening Victory

Once the lights dimmed and the focus shifted from the stage to the pitch, Mexico gave the home crowd even more reason to celebrate.

The hosts defeated South Africa 2-0 in a dramatic opening match, turning the emotional lift of the ceremony into a powerful sporting statement. Julian Quinones put Mexico ahead after nine minutes, finishing past South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams from just outside the box.

South Africa struggled to regain control, and their challenge became harder in the second half when Sphephelo Sithole was shown a red card after bringing down Brian Gutierrez as the Mexican player ran free toward goal.

Mexico then sealed the result in the 67th minute when Raúl Jiménez nodded in a cross from Roberto Alvarado, cementing a 2-0 victory and sending the stadium into another wave of noise.

The night was not only a successful opening ceremony. It became a complete opening statement: music, spectacle, national pride and a home win.

The First Act in a Trilogy of Opening Ceremonies

The Mexico City event was only the first part of a wider opening plan. Because the 2026 World Cup is shared by Mexico, Canada and the United States, the tournament is being introduced through three opening ceremonies.

After Mexico’s ceremony on June 11, Bosnia and Herzegovina were scheduled to face Canada on Friday, June 12, at Toronto Stadium. The United States were also set to play Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, where Katy Perry, Anitta, Future, Lisa and Rema were slated to perform.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the ceremonies as a way to express both national identity and global unity.

“The FIFA World Cup is a moment the world shares, and that begins with how we open it,” he said.

“Starting with Mexico City and continuing the next days with Toronto and Los Angeles, these ceremonies will bring together music, culture and football in a way that reflects both the individuality of each nation and the unity that defines this tournament.

“It is a powerful way to begin a truly global celebration.”

Why Shakira’s Return Matters

Shakira’s World Cup legacy is unusually strong for a music artist. Few performers have become so closely associated with the sound and emotion of the tournament. Her return in Mexico City connected the 2026 edition to earlier World Cup memories while also introducing a new anthem for a new era.

“Dai Dai” arrived in a tournament that is larger and more geographically ambitious than previous editions. With 48 nations competing, the World Cup is no longer only expanding in sporting terms; it is expanding as a media, entertainment and cultural event.

Shakira’s partnership with Burna Boy also reflects the changing sound of global pop. Latin music and African music are both major forces in international streaming culture, and their presence at the World Cup opening ceremony underlined football’s ability to bring together audiences across continents.

The ceremony did more than entertain. It positioned the World Cup as a shared stage for cultural exchange.

A Celebration With a Wider Social Backdrop

While the stadium atmosphere was festive, the broader setting in Mexico City was more complex. Opening day also unfolded amid protests and social tensions in the capital, including demonstrations involving relatives of Mexico’s disappeared.

That contrast gave the day a layered significance. Inside the stadium, the ceremony celebrated unity, joy and global visibility. Outside, public demonstrations highlighted unresolved social concerns that remained present even as the world’s attention turned to football.

Major sporting events often carry this dual reality. They create moments of collective celebration, but they also draw attention to the societies that host them. In Mexico City, the World Cup opening was both a cultural showcase and a reminder that global spectacles do not erase local realities.

A Powerful Start to the Biggest World Cup Yet

By the end of the night, Mexico had delivered the kind of opening the tournament organizers would have hoped for: a packed stadium, global music stars, a memorable performance by Shakira and Burna Boy, a strong home victory and a sense that the 2026 World Cup had begun with momentum.

The ceremony’s lasting image may be Shakira on stage, surrounded by dancers and stadium lights, returning once again to the tournament that helped make her music part of football history. But the night also belonged to Mexico’s fans, whose energy turned the opening match into a national celebration.

The 2026 World Cup is now underway, and its first message was clear: this tournament will be as much about culture, identity and global connection as it is about goals.