A World Cup opener without hosts: Sheinbaum, Trump and Carney all skip the ceremony, leaving Mexico City to Shakira and 81,000 fans
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off on 11 June at the Estadio Azteca with a Latin-music-heavy ceremony, but the heads of state from Mexico, the United States and Canada all stayed away — an absence never before seen at a men’s World Cup inauguration.
A ceremonial void
For the first time in 22 editions of the men’s World Cup, the highest authorities of every host nation chose not to attend the opening ceremony. Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum handed her ticket 001 to Yolett Cervantes Cuaquehua, a 21-year-old indigenous woman from Veracruz, and watched the Mexico–South Africa match on public screens in the north of the capital. US president Donald Trump sent Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Friday’s separate Los Angeles event, though Trump has said he will attend later rounds. Canadian prime minister Mark Carney also missed the Mexico City night but plans to be present for Canada’s first match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The vast majority of Mexican fans cannot access a ticket, so I preferred to watch the match from the screens that the government set up to watch the tournament for free in Mexico City.
The show inside the Azteca
The 15-minute performance unfolded on a canvas covering the entire pitch, where a golden ball turned into a giant World Cup trophy. Maná opened with “Oye mi amor”, followed by Danny Ocean, Los Ángeles Azules with Belinda, and J Balvin, who brought out Ryan Castro. Shakira and Burna Boy then delivered the official song “Dai Dai” atop a turquoise-and-yellow flag reading “We are ready.” Fireworks in green, white and red closed the segment before Andrea Bocelli performed the other official anthem, “DNA”, with contributions from EJAE, David Guetta and Megan Thee Stallion. Salma Hayek Pinault served as FIFA ambassador.
Returning to Mexico City, a city that has always welcomed me with extraordinary warmth, fills me with joy and gratitude.
Three countries, three kickoff galas
FIFA designed a trilogy of opening shows. The US celebration follows on Friday in Inglewood, Los Angeles, before the United States–Paraguay match, with Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, Lisa, Rema and Tyla all advertised. Canada’s turn comes the same day in Toronto, where Alanis Morissette, Michael Bublé and Alessia Cara will perform ahead of Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The FIFA World Cup is a moment the world shares, and that begins with how we open it.
Protest outside the party
While the Azteca filled its nearly 81,000 seats, protests by teachers, health workers, transport workers, pensioners, families of disappeared persons and students moved through southern Mexico City. Heavy police cordons kept demonstrators away from the stadium, and the official message of football as a unifying force clashed with the grievances being voiced on the streets.
A tournament of superlatives
The 2026 edition is the largest in history: 48 teams, 1,248 players, 16 host cities and a length of 39 days. The match count varies across reports, with some documents citing 104 fixtures and others 108. The Estadio Azteca — officially renamed Estadio Ciudad de México — becomes the first venue to host a men’s World Cup opening on three occasions (1970, 1986, 2026).
