The 2026 World Cup opening ceremony took place on Thursday at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Shakira and Burna Boy performed the official tournament song Dai Dai for the first time. The event featured a celebration of Mexican culture ahead of the Mexico versus South Africa match.
Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca hosted the first of three opening ceremonies 90 minutes before kickoff in the Group A opener. The show opened with Aztec imagery and a giant golden World Cup trophy. Lila Downs welcomed spectators in Spanish and English.
Musical acts included legendary Mexican rock band Mana, Venezuelan singer Danny Ocean, and a medley from Colombian artists J Balvin and Ryan Castro. Alejandro Fernandez performed the Mexican national anthem while South African singer Tyla sang for Bafana Bafana.
Shakira arrived to a roaring crowd and joined Nigerian star Burna Boy for the debut of Dai Dai. Hollywood ambassador Salma Hayek Pinault joined the performers on the pitch. The ceremony closed with dancers surrounding the trophy.
Organizers described the event as colourful and culturally rich, matching expectations for a World Cup opener.
