Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy and Colombian pop icon Shakira delivered a memorable performance at the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, thrilling thousands of fans at the iconic Estadio Azteca ahead of the tournament’s opening match between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa.
The ceremony transformed the historic 80,000-capacity stadium into a spectacle of music, dance, and fireworks, with performers and dancers entertaining spectators before kickoff.
One of the standout moments of the event came when Burna Boy and Shakira took the stage to perform **“Dai Dai,”** the official song of the tournament, drawing loud cheers from fans packed inside the stadium.
Other notable performers included J Balvin and Andrea Bocelli, who also entertained the crowd as excitement built ahead of the opening fixture.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is being jointly hosted by Mexico, United States, and Canada. The expanded tournament features 48 teams and 104 matches, with the final scheduled to take place in New Jersey on July 19.
While the atmosphere inside the stadium was celebratory, scenes outside were less orderly as thousands of supporters gathered at the official World Cup fan zone in central Mexico City.
Reports indicated that overcrowding and restricted access led to pushing and shoving among fans attempting to enter the viewing area. Some supporters expressed frustration over the situation, with many calling for better organization.
Despite the challenges outside the venue, the opening ceremony set the tone for what is expected to be one of the biggest World Cup tournaments in history.