The FIFA World Cup 2026 got off to a dazzling start on Thursday at the famous Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Colombian pop star Shakira took to the World Cup stage for the fourth time in her career on this occasion, remaining the centrepiece of a star-studded opening ceremony.
Alongside Shakira, several big-name artists including Burna Boy, J Balvin and Belinda transformed the atmosphere with their performances at the opening ceremony. Their acts had the audience rising from their seats to join in. The celebration was staged on Thursday, just ahead of the opening match between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa.
Yet once the glitter and fireworks of the opening ceremony settled, the real talking point became the thrilling contest between Mexico and South Africa. As more than 80,000 spectators streamed out of the stadium after the match, hardly anyone was discussing Shakira's performance or the opening ceremony.
Mexico shares a special bond with football's biggest event. Here the passion for it rivals that of the Olympics, and it can truly be called a global sport. The country is hosting the tournament for the third time, this time as a co-host. Estadio Azteca is the venue that witnessed both Pelé and Diego Maradona lift the trophy within a span of just 16 years.
This stadium has become the first venue in World Cup history to host the opening match three times. In such a setting, the drama-filled clash between Mexico and South Africa made the start of the tournament truly memorable.
This 48-team tournament is also being held in the United States and Canada. A total of 104 matches will be played, with the final scheduled for July 19 in New Jersey. During the ceremony, dancers were seen swirling around a giant model of the World Cup trophy, while fireworks lit up the historic stadium with its capacity of 80,000 spectators. This is the same ground where the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals were held, and it has been given a fresh look for this year's tournament.
The standout moment of the FIFA World Cup 2026 opening ceremony was when Colombian star Shakira and Burna Boy joined forces to perform the official tournament song "Dai Dai". The crowd inside the stadium welcomed the performance with thunderous applause and cheers.
Before kick-off, several artists including J Balvin and the celebrated Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli also transformed the mood of the stadium with their performances. The opening of the FIFA World Cup 2026 created such a buzz that it made the day unforgettable for the spectators.
