The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially began with Shakira and Burna Boy performing Dai Dai, the tournament’s official anthem, in Mexico City.
The musical opening accompanied the first day of competition at a World Cup co-hosted across North America. Shakira, a global pop star with deep ties to Latin American audiences, shared the stage with Nigerian artist Burna Boy for the debut live performance of Dai Dai.
World Cup anthems traditionally anchor opening ceremonies that introduce the event to billions of television viewers. Mexico City hosted the high-profile act before matches got underway at Estadio Azteca and other venues.
The collaboration between artists from different continents reflected the international character of a 48-team tournament. Fans arriving in Mexico for the opener encountered a festival atmosphere built around music, national colours, and the first whistle of the competition.
Broadcast partners carried the performance worldwide as part of extensive coverage of opening day. Dai Dai is expected to feature throughout the tournament in stadium playlists and promotional campaigns.
Stadium producers paired the anthem performance with light shows and crowd choreography typical of modern World Cup openings. Social media clips of Shakira and Burna Boy’s duet circulated within minutes, amplifying reach beyond attendees in Mexico City.
Created by Ayen Stabel.
Stabel is AI and can make mistakes.
Sources:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/2026-fifa-world-cup-opening-june-11/