Shakira and Burna Boy Ignite Estadio Azteca as Expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup Kicks Off in Splendor.

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Shakira and Burna Boy Ignite Estadio Azteca as Expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup Kicks Off in Splendor.



Jun 11 2026, Thursday 

The highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup officially got underway with a spectacular and high-energy opening ceremony at the historic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Colombian pop sensation Shakira spearheaded the star-studded event alongside Nigerian Afrobeat giant Burna Boy, electrifying a capacity crowd of 80,824 fans with a vibrant live performance of their official tournament anthem, "Dai Dai.


The opening event celebrated Mexico's rich Aztec roots and cultural tapestry, filling the pitch with performers in brilliantly colorful costumes before Mexican singer-songwriter Lila Downs welcomed the world in both Spanish and English. The iconic venue became the first stadium in history to host World Cup matches across three different tournaments, having previously done so in 1970 and 1986.

A Star-Studded Cultural Festivity

The short yet electric ceremony featured a lineup of world-renowned artists bridging generations and genres. The live musical performances kicked off with the popular Mexican pop-rock band Maná singing their 1992 hit "Oye Mi Amor," followed by pop star Belinda and Los Ángeles Azules delivering a stunning cultural mashup. Colombian singer J Balvin and rapper Ryan Castro pumped up the crowd with a medley of their hits, concluding with "I Like It."

The stadium reached a fever pitch when Shakira, marking her fourth World Cup appearance, took the stage to execute the flawless choreography of "Dai Dai" with her dancers before being joined by Burna Boy. Following the musical showcase, World Cup Ambassador Salma Hayek Pinault took to the pitch to officially welcome the 48 competing nations. The ceremony concluded with Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and singer EJAE performing "DNA," the official FIFA World Cup anthem, followed by a dramatic burst of red and green smoke clouds.

Host Nation Mexico Claims Fierce 2-0 Victory Over South Africa

Immediately following the dazzling opening ceremony, co-host Mexico squared off against South Africa in the tournament's initial Group A fixture—a nostalgic reversal of the 2010 World Cup curtain-raiser. El Tri secured a crucial 2-0 victory to send the home crowd into a frenzy, though the physical match was heavily marred by intense disciplinary issues and three red cards.

  • Early Advantage: World Cup debutant Julián Quiñones put Mexico ahead early in the 9th minute with an exuberant strike, settling the nerves of the home spectators.

  • Sealing the Win: Veteran forward Raúl Jiménez doubled the lead in the 66th minute with a powerful header, marking his 46th international goal and tying Jared Borgetti for second place on Mexico's all-time scoring list.

  • The Red Mist: The second half descended into a scrappy affair as South Africa's Sphephelo "Yaya" Sithole and Themba Zwane were both sent off, reducing Bafana Bafana to nine men. Mexico's defender César Montes was also shown a straight red card during injury time.

Despite the chaotic final minutes, Javier Aguirre’s squad walked away with all three points. Mexico is scheduled to face South Korea in Guadalajara next Thursday, while South Africa will travel to Atlanta to clash with the Czech Republic.

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