The 2026 World Cup is right here and the opening ceremony was as grand and vibrant as you’ll anticipate.
Mexico Metropolis’s Estadio Azteca, the grandfather of World Cup venues, internet hosting its third event, staged the primary of three opening ceremonies on Thursday, kicking off 90 minutes earlier than Mexico’s Group A opener towards South Africa.
The opposite two comply with on Friday in Toronto and Los Angeles, however this was all the time going to be the primary occasion.
The ceremony started with a celebration of Mexican tradition and indigenous heritage, with Aztec imagery taking centre stage round an enormous golden World Cup trophy.
Lila Downs welcomed the world in Spanish and English, declaring merely: “Folks of the world, welcome to Mexico.”
Legendary Mexican rock band Mana kicked off the musical performances, earlier than Venezuelan singer-songwriter Danny Ocean took his flip, warming up a crowd that was already roaring.
Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin then took the stage alongside Ryan Castro, performing a medley together with his 2018 hit earlier than the pair united on their 2026 duet “Una A La Vez.”
Then got here the headliner. Shakira arrived to seismic noise contained in the stadium, performing alongside Nigerian Afrobeats star Burna Boy, she debuted “Dai Dai” – the official tune of the 2026 World Cup – dwell for the primary time.
The tune, whose title is an Italian phrase that means “let’s go” or “come on,” closed out the ceremony with each artists surrounded by dancers in entrance of that big golden trophy.
Mexican celebrity Alejandro Fernandez sang the Mexican nationwide anthem, whereas South African Grammy Award-winner Tyla carried out the anthem of the visiting Bafana Bafana.
Hollywood star and World Cup ambassador Salma Hayek Pinault additionally took to the pitch, lending some further glamour to proceedings and drawing an enormous cheer from the house crowd.
All instructed, it was vibrant, loud, culturally wealthy and precisely what a World Cup opener ought to really feel like.
