Global music icon Shakira and Nigerian Afrobeats star Burna Boy will headline the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico City, FIFA has announced.
The ceremony is scheduled to take place at the iconic Estadio Azteca on June 11, shortly before the tournament’s opening match between hosts Mexico and South Africa.
According to FIFA, Shakira will lead performances of the tournament’s official song titled “Dai Dai,” an Italian phrase meaning “let’s go,” alongside Burna Boy in what is expected to be one of the highlights of the opening celebrations.
FIFA also confirmed that Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin and South African singer Tyla will feature in the opening ceremony, as the governing body rolls out expanded entertainment plans for the first-ever 48-team World Cup.
The 2026 edition will introduce a new format, with opening ceremonies staged across all three host nations – Mexico, the United States, and Canada marking a departure from previous tournaments that held a single global opening event.
The performance will mark another appearance for Shakira at a FIFA World Cup, further cementing her status as one of the tournament’s most recognisable musical figures.
She previously delivered the global hit “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” at the 2010 World Cup, a song that became one of the most successful and iconic tournament anthems in football history. She has also performed at multiple editions of the competition over the years.
FIFA further revealed that Shakira will co-headline the halftime show at the World Cup final, alongside other international stars including Madonna and BTS.
In Canada, Canadian music stars Michael Bublé and Alanis Morissette will headline the opening ceremony in Toronto ahead of Canada’s first match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In the United States, American pop star Katy Perry and rapper Future will perform at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles before the U.S. men’s national team face Paraguay.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the largest in the tournament’s history, expanding from 32 to 48 teams and increasing the number of matches from 64 to 104.
The competition will kick off in Mexico City and conclude in the New York/New Jersey area after 39 days of matches across 16 host cities in North America, making it the first World Cup jointly hosted by three countries on such a scale.
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