Shakira to Star at World Cup Opening Ceremony

Colombian pop sensation Shakira is set to deliver her official anthem for the 2026 FIFA World Cup during the tournament's opening festivities in Mexico. On Thursday, June 11, she will take the stage at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca to perform "Dai Dai," a track featuring Nigerian artist Burna Boy. This performance will precede the match between Mexico and South Africa, which kicks off at 20:00 BST and marks the first of the 104 games in the tournament. The title "Dai Dai" translates from Italian to "let’s go" or "come on."

Also joining the lineup in Mexico are Colombian reggaeton artist J Balvin and South African singer-songwriter Tyla. Unlike previous tournaments, the 2026 edition will feature opening ceremonies before each of the initial matches across the three host nations: the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

In Toronto, Canadian musical icons Michael Bublé and Alanis Morissette are scheduled to headline the ceremony at BMO Field. This event will precede Canada’s clash with Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday, June 12, at 20:00 BST. Meanwhile, in the United States, pop icon Katy Perry and rapper Future will perform at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium. Their set will introduce the USA’s match against Paraguay, which takes place on the same day, Friday, June 12, at 02:00 BST (Saturday).

Looking ahead to the tournament's conclusion, Shakira is confirmed to co-headline the Super Bowl-style halftime show for the World Cup final on July 19. She will share the stage with fellow legends Madonna and the K-pop group BTS.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-06-04 22:48:54 UTC