Shakira and Burna Boy to headline World Cup 2026 opening ceremony at Estadio Azteca

The FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on Thursday, June 11, with a star-studded opening ceremony scheduled to begin at 6:15pm UK time (11:15am local time) before host nation Mexico face South Africa in Group A.

Four-time Grammy winner Shakira will headline the ceremony alongside Nigerian Afrobeats star Burna Boy, performing the official tournament song ‘Dai Dai’. They will be joined by a wide-ranging international lineup that includes South African singer Tyla, Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin, Danny Ocean, and a strong contingent of Mexican acts — rock legends Maná, ranchera icon Alejandro Fernández, pop star Belinda, and cumbia group Los Ángeles Azules.

The opening match between Mexico and South Africa is scheduled to kick off at 8pm UK time (3pm ET / 1pm PT). Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre has named experienced striker Raúl Jiménez to lead the attack, while goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa makes history by earning his sixth World Cup call-up. South Africa will lean on goalkeeper Ronwen Williams and Burnley forward Lyle Foster as their key players.

The two nations share a notable piece of World Cup history: they drew 1-1 in the opening fixture of the 2010 tournament in Johannesburg, and their overall head-to-head record across competitive meetings remains closely matched, with Mexico holding a narrow advantage from earlier contests.

This is the first of three opening ceremonies planned for the 2026 tournament, which is co-hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada.