Shakira, Salma Hayek and Andrea Bocelli launch 2026 World Cup at Estadio Azteca
The 2026 FIFA World Cup started Thursday with a vibrant opening ceremony at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca, headlined by Shakira and Burna Boy performing the tournament track 'Dai Dai'.
Star-studded ceremony
A 20-minute spectacle preceded the first match of the tournament. Indigenous dancers in feathered headdresses and traditional costumes, accompanied by drummers, opened the show. Mexican rock band Maná, Venezuelan pop singer Danny Ocean, cumbia group Los Ángeles Azules, Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin, and Spanish-Mexican singer Belinda performed in quick succession.
The crowd of 80,000 then erupted for Shakira, who appeared in sunglasses, a yellow bodysuit, and a purple skirt. Paired with Nigerian star Burna Boy, she delivered "Dai Dai", a song blending Spanish and English over Afrobeat and Caribbean rhythms. Dozens of dancers surrounded the duo.
Peuples du monde, bienvenue au Mexique
Trophy presentation and VIPs
Actress Salma Hayek, clad in a red suit with a red-and-green scarf echoing Mexico's colours, returned to the pitch to hand the World Cup trophy to FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Her speech was warmly ovationed.
Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, wearing his signature burgundy velvet jacket, then sang the tournament's official anthem "DNA" alongside South Korean singer EJAE. The piece, a blend of opera and electronic music, was produced by French DJ David Guetta. Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum attended the ceremony. US President Donald Trump was absent, opting instead to attend the United States' opening match against Paraguay on Saturday.
A tournament of firsts
The 2026 edition is the first to be co-hosted by three nations — Mexico, the United States, and Canada — and the first to feature 48 teams. The tournament spans five weeks and will deliver 104 matches across the three countries. The Azteca became the first stadium to host opening ceremonies for three different World Cups (1970, 1986, 2026).
Opening match and immediate schedule
The tournament's opening fixture, Mexico against South Africa, kicked off at 13:06 local time (19:06 GMT) — a repeat of the 2010 World Cup opener. The match continues a Group A doubleheader. Later tonight, South Korea will challenge the Czech Republic at 04:00 local time at the Estadio Akron in Guadalajara.
