MEXICO CITY: Colombian pop star Shakira will perform at the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico later this month, FIFA has confirmed.
The performance will be held at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City ahead of the tournament’s opening match.
Shakira, whose 2010 World Cup anthem Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) became one of the most recognizable songs in football history, is set to debut her new World Cup track, Dai Dai, during the ceremony.
The singer will be joined by Nigerian artist Burna Boy. Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin and South African singer-songwriter Tyla are also scheduled to perform.
The opening match will be played between Mexico and South Africa on June 11. The ceremony is scheduled to begin 90 minutes before kickoff.
Separate opening celebrations will also be staged in Canada and the United States, reflecting the tournament’s unprecedented hosting arrangement across three countries.
In Toronto, Canadian music stars Michael Bublé and Alanis Morissette are set to headline festivities ahead of Canada’s opening match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first edition of the tournament to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
