By Mumo Judah
June 8, 2026
Global music icons Shakira and Burna Boy will headline the first of three opening ceremonies planned for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, setting the stage for a historic start to the tournament at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
The two international stars are scheduled to perform on Thursday, June 11, 2026, approximately 90 minutes before the opening match between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa. Their appearance will kick off celebrations for what will be the largest World Cup in history, featuring 48 nations across North America.
Shakira and Burna Boy are expected to perform Dai Dai, the official anthem of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, for the first time in front of a global audience. The track, which combines Latin pop and Afrobeats influences, was jointly created by the Colombian superstar and the Nigerian Grammy-winning artist and supports the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.
The opening ceremony at Estadio Azteca will feature a host of internationally acclaimed and regional artists. Mexican music legends Maná, Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Lila Downs and Los Ángeles Azules are among the performers expected to showcase the country’s rich musical heritage.
Joining them will be Colombian reggaeton sensation J Balvin, South African Grammy-winning singer Tyla and Venezuelan singer-songwriter Danny Ocean, underscoring FIFA’s efforts to celebrate cultural diversity through music and entertainment.
Fans in Mexico will be able to watch the ceremony and the subsequent Mexico-South Africa encounter through major broadcasters including TUDN, Las Estrellas, Azteca 7 and Canal 5.
The festivities in Mexico City will mark only the beginning of a broader celebration planned by FIFA. Two additional opening ceremonies are scheduled for June 12, with Los Angeles hosting a star-studded show featuring pop star Katy Perry and rapper Future, while Toronto will stage a ceremony headlined by Canadian artists Alanis Morissette and Michael Bublé.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup holds special significance as it marks the centenary celebration of football’s biggest tournament. It will be jointly hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada, with 16 cities sharing hosting duties.
Estadio Azteca, one of football’s most iconic venues, will once again make history by becoming the first stadium to host matches in three different FIFA World Cups, having previously staged games in 1970 and 1986.
With a blend of football, music and culture, the opening ceremonies are expected to attract millions of viewers worldwide and usher in a month-long celebration of the beautiful game.
