Shakira and Burna Boy to headline 2026 World Cup opening ceremony in Mexico City

Shakira and Burna Boy will headline the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico City, performing the official tournament anthem Dai Dai ahead of the host nation Mexico’s opening match against South Africa on Thursday, 12 June.

FIFA has organised three separate opening events across the three co-host nations. The Mexico City show will also feature Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules, Maná, and Tyla, with each ceremony set to begin approximately 90 minutes before kick-off.

In Toronto, Alanis Morissette and Michael Bublé are scheduled to perform on 12 June ahead of Canada’s opening fixture against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Later that same day in Los Angeles, Katy Perry, LISA, Rema, Anitta, and Future will take the stage before the United States face Paraguay.

All three productions are being orchestrated by Italian producer Marco Balich, who also directed the opening ceremony for this year’s Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

Shakira is additionally set to perform at a Super Bowl-style half-time show during the World Cup final, alongside Madonna and K-pop group BTS.

The official song Dai Dai has been given a broader purpose beyond entertainment: FIFA intends for it to help raise $100 million for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.

The tournament carries historical weight for the opening ceremony format. The 1994 World Cup in Chicago featured Diana Ross’s now-iconic missed penalty during the pre-match show — a moment that has endured in football folklore for three decades.

With the tournament fewer than seven days away, all 48 participating nations are completing their final preparations. England, managed by Thomas Tuchel, will play warm-up friendlies against New Zealand on 6 June and Costa Rica on 10 June before opening their World Cup campaign against Croatia on 17 June, followed by group-stage fixtures against Ghana on 23 June and Panama on 27 June. The Three Lions have not lifted the trophy since their sole triumph in 1966.