World Cup 2026 kicks off with Shakira, Burna Boy electrifying Azteca Stadium
Al Jazeera Staff
The 2026 World Cup opened with a vibrant ceremony at Azteca Stadium, featuring performances by Shakira, Burna Boy, J Balvin, and cultural displays. The show preceded the match between Mexico and South Africa.
The opening ceremony of the 2026 World Cup took place on the evening of June 11 at the legendary Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, ahead of the opening match between hosts Mexico and South Africa. Thousands of fans clad in green-black and yellow-blue turned the stands into a sea of color, merging with the festive atmosphere.
The ceremony began with a reenactment of Aztec culture as the pitch filled with dancers in vibrant costumes. Mexican singer Lila Downs welcomed the world in both Spanish and English: “People of the world, welcome to Mexico!”. Two large screens at either end of the stadium replayed moments from the 1986 World Cup – the last time Mexico hosted the tournament.
The highlight of the opening ceremony was the performance by Colombian star Shakira alongside Nigerian singer Burna Boy. They performed the official theme song, ‘Dai Dai’, marking Shakira’s return to Azteca after 16 years since she performed ‘Waka Waka’ at the 2010 World Cup. The duo ended their act with the chorus: “Dale, allez, let’s go!” sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Earlier, Venezuelan singer Danny Ocean opened the show with his track ‘Partidazo’ accompanied by dancers in traditional Mexican costumes. Next came a cultural fusion between pop star Belinda and the band Los Angeles Azules with the song ‘Por Ella’. Pop-rock band Mana also led the crowd in singing along to their 1992 hit ‘Oye Mi Amor’.
Colombian singer J Balvin and rapper Ryan Castro energized the atmosphere with a medley of hits, including their duet ‘Una A La Vez’ and the track ‘I Like It’ (featuring Cardi B and Bad Bunny).
The official ceremony followed. World Cup ambassador Salma Hayek Pinault stepped onto the field to greet fans: “At this stadium, together with Canada and the United States, we welcome 48 flags.” Next came the parade of flags of the 48 participating nations.
Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and singer EJAE performed ‘DNA’ – the official song of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. South African artist Tyla then sang the South African national anthem as players and spectators placed their hands on their chests and sang along. Mexican singer Alejandro Fernandez closed the opening ceremony with a rendition of the Mexican national anthem before blue and red smoke erupted to signal the official start of the tournament.
Outside the stadium, chaos broke out at the fan zone in Zocala square. Metal barriers erected to block protesting teachers demanding wage increases made access difficult. Some fans threw water bottles and booed police. Local authorities said the area was overloaded and urged fans to go to other squares. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who had planned to watch the match at the fan zone, had to reconsider her schedule amid the wave of protests.
