Celebrated Artists Shine at the Opening
The opening ceremony of the 2026 World Cup was a dazzling event held at Mexico City’s Stadium on Thursday. Renowned international performers Shakira, Maná, Andrea Bocelli, and a surprise appearance by Salma Hayek thrilled the audience, setting an electrifying tone before the match between Mexico and South Africa.
Colombian star Shakira captivated everyone with her rendition of ‘Dai Dai,’ the official World Cup song for 2026, alongside Burna Boy. Shakira previously left a lasting impression with ‘Waka Waka (This Is Africa)’ during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and aims to evoke the same effect with ‘Dai Dai.’ She stated to The Associated Press the importance of rhythm and anthem-like qualities in a World Cup song, noting that it should inspire people to sing along and dance collectively.
Shakira has a record of World Cup performances, including Germany 2006 with ‘Hips Don’t Lie’ at the final, South Africa 2010 with ‘Waka Waka’ during the opening and closing, Brazil 2014 with ‘La La La’ alongside Carlinhos Brown at the final, and now the 2026 opening event.
Additionally, Shakira is set to perform at the first halftime show of a World Cup final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, joined by Madonna and BTS.
Warm Welcome from Lila Downs
Lila Downs greeted fans and players in Spanish, English, and the indigenous languages Mixteco and Nahuatl. Wearing a white huipil with purple borders, Downs welcomed the global audience to México, describing it as a nation of diversity and ancestral pride.
Born in Tlaxiaco, Oaxaca, Downs has mixed heritage with an indigenous Mixteca mother and a Scottish-American father. Passionate about soccer, she expressed honor in representing her vibrant country, adopting green, white, and red for her team preference: ‘Viva México.’
Maná Excites the Crowd
Maná energized the stadium performing ‘Oye mi amor,’ accompanied by pre-Hispanic dancers rhythmically displaying feathered headdresses while fans joined in chorus. The band, founded in 1986 by Fher Olvera, Alex González, Sergio Vallín, and Juan Calleros, has sold over 40 million albums, notably the 1992 record ‘¿Dónde jugarán los niños?’ featuring ‘Oye mi amor.’
Prior to their performance, Maná announced upcoming tours across Latin America, with stops in Bogotá, Lima, Santiago de Chile, Buenos Aires, and Mexico City.
Los Ángeles Azules Bring Cumbia Flavor
The Mexican cumbia group Los Ángeles Azules performed ‘Por Ella’ with Belinda, one of the most danceable tracks from the ‘Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album.’ The group, originating from Iztapalapa in Mexico City, is known for their local representation. Their mantra ‘De Iztapalapa para el mundo’ resonates pride.
Los Ángeles Azules have made appearances at renowned festivals such as Vive Latino and Coachella. Joining them on stage was J Balvin with a dynamic performance, kicking off with ‘Qué calor’ in a cardboard car, followed by duo ‘Una a la vez’ with Ryan Castro, and closing with ‘I Like It.’
Hollywood’s Presence
Salma Hayek, celebrated for films like ‘Frida’ and ‘Desperado,’ made a special appearance. Known as a soccer enthusiast, she delivered a welcoming speech during the World Cup’s inaugural parade, showcasing flags of 48 participating nations. Originally from Veracruz, Hayek expressed honor in hosting the event, a unifying tradition through football.
Her marriage to François-Henri Pinault connects her to Ligue 1, and she serves as an ambassador for the 2026 World Cup.
Harmony of Opera and K-pop
Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and South Korean star EJAE performed ‘DNA,’ the official hymn of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, featuring DJ and producer David Guetta during the flag parade. Bocelli previously entertained over 130,000 fans at Mexico City’s Zócalo. EJAE, known for her vocal role in ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ garnered attention for her Oscar-winning composition ‘Golden’ in an animated film.
National Anthems Before the Game
Tyla and Alejandro Fernández were selected to perform the national anthems for South Africa and Mexico respectively, setting the stage for the tournament’s opening match. Tyla, acclaimed with a Grammy for African music, is noted as the youngest African Grammy winner. Fernandez, with a legacy rooted in regional Mexican music, carries the torch passed by his father Vicente Fernandez. Featuring in the ‘Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album,’ Fernández sings ‘Mi México lindo.’