Shakira will take centre stage at the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony, performing at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on Thursday, 11 June.
The Colombian pop star will perform Dai Dai, the official song of the 2026 World Cup, alongside Nigerian Afrobeats artist Burna Boy at the high-profile event.
The ceremony is scheduled to begin before Mexico and South Africa kick off the tournament’s 104 games at 20:00 BST.
Dai Dai is an Italian phrase meaning “let’s go” or “come on”, serving as an energetic anthem for the global competition.
Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin and South African singer-songwriter Tyla will also feature in the Mexico City opening show.
The 2026 World Cup is unique in hosting three separate opening ceremonies, one in each of the tournament’s three host nations: Mexico, Canada, and the United States.
Canadian singer-songwriters Michael Buble and Alanis Morissette will headline the ceremony at BMO Field in Toronto on Friday, 12 June, before Canada face Bosnia and Herzegovina at 20:00 BST.
In the United States, pop star Katy Perry and rapper Future will perform ahead of the USA’s opener against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, 12 June.
Shakira’s involvement in the tournament does not end with the opening ceremony, as she is also set to co-headline the Super Bowl-style half-time show at the World Cup final on 19 July.
Madonna and K-pop boyband BTS will join Shakira on the bill for what promises to be a spectacular finale to the summer’s biggest sporting event.
The scale of the entertainment surrounding the 2026 World Cup reflects FIFA’s ambition to make the expanded, 48-team tournament the most watched and celebrated in the competition’s history.
