A wave of international stars lit up the FIFA World Cup 2026 opening ceremony on Thursday (June 11) at Mexico City’s stadium (Estadio Azteca), headlined by Colombian superstar Shakira and Nigerian artist Burna Boy with their World Cup anthem, “Dai Dai.”
Maná, J Balvin, Belinda, Danny Ocean, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules and Tyla were also part of the spectacular show, which began 90 minutes before the opening match between Mexico and South Africa.
The spectacle was witnessed by more than 80,000 people inside the venue and millions around the world, according to organizers. Before the game began, Tyla performed the South African national anthem, while ranchera music icon Alejandro Fernández performed Mexico’s anthem on the field of the legendary stadium — a venue that has witnessed historic soccer moments featuring figures such as the late Pelé and Diego Maradona during the 1970 and 1986 World Cups, respectively.
“I believe that two of the most beautiful things in existence are art and sports because they have the ability to bring people together,” said Fher Olvera, the lead singer of Maná, in a statement to Billboard Español. “Soccer unites entire countries around the same emotion, and music does something similar. That’s why it’s so special for us to be part of the World Cup opening.”
“Just imagine what it means to kick off an event that billions of people around the planet will watch, and to do it in Mexico, no less,” he added. “It feels monumental.”
Mexican actress and producer Salma Hayek served as the honorary host during the opening ceremony, having been previously appointed as the tournament’s official ambassador. From the field, Hayek greeted attendees and the international audience just minutes before the first kickoff.
Meanwhile, Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, declined to attend the tournament’s opening match featuring the Mexican national team at Mexico City’s stadium. Instead, she gave her ticket to a young Mexican soccer fan through a nationwide contest.
This marks the third time Mexico has hosted a FIFA World Cup, though this time it shares hosting duties with the United States and Canada.
Below, see the highlights of the opening ceremony, in chronological order:
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Lila Downs
Image Credit: Jose Hernandez/Anadolu via Getty Images The Mexican-American singer-songwriter opened the ceremony with an indigenous ritual at the center of the playing field, which was covered in the turquoise blue characteristic of Mesoamerican native peoples. Surrounded by dancers wearing headdresses and traditional feathered attire, Downs delivered a message in Spanish, English and Mixtec — an indigenous language from the southern Mexican state where she was born. “Peoples of the world, welcome to Mexico!” Downs declared, her arms outstretched in a gesture of respect toward the world’s sister nations.
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Maná
Image Credit: Luke Hales/Getty Images Maná, the iconic Mexican rock superband, took the stage following Downs’ message with their 1992 classic “Oye Mi Amor,” surrounded by feathered dancers. Considered a staple in the repertoire of the Guadalajara-born band and a highly popular track in the Latin American songbook, Fher Olvera, Álex González (drums), Sergio Vallín (guitar) and Juan Calleros (bass) delivered a powerful rendition of the song. Though shorter than the original, it had the crowd singing along at the top of their lungs.
The iconic track, included on their album ¿Dónde Jugarán Los Niños? takes on new life with its inclusion in the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as well as on the new album by British superstar Dua Lipa, Live From Mexico City. Released in late May and recorded last December during the finale of her Radical Optimism world tour in Mexico City, the album features this classic in a fresh new light.
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Danny Ocean
Image Credit: Luke Hales/Getty Images The Venezuelan urban music star Danny Ocean represented Latin America at the soccer tournament with his song “Partidazo,” included in the official album of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Accompanied by a troupe of dancers from the legendary Ballet Folclórico de México, founded by Amalia Hernández in the 1950s, the South American artist brought a contemporary touch to the opening ceremony. Dressed in a reddish-toned suit, Ocean set the stage ablaze with reggaeton vibes at the legendary stadium before passing the spotlight to Mexican cumbia band Los Ángeles Azules.
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Los Ángeles Azules & Belinda
Image Credit: Jose Hernandez/Anadolu via Getty Images The legendary cumbia band Los Ángeles Azules and pop star Belinda turned up the festive vibe with “Por Ella,” the song they recorded for the official FIFA World Cup 2026 album. They performed it a day earlier at the Countdown Concert on the eve of the tournament at the Auditorio Nacional. A thunderous ovation filled the venue, celebrating Mexican popular culture and the rhythm that unites Latin America, performed by this iconic group alongside the pop star, who wore a pink crop top and low-rise jeans.
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J Balvin & Ryan Castro
Image Credit: Yuri CORTEZ / AFP via Getty Imag Colombian superstar J Balvin was at the center of one of the most celebrated moments of the opening party, where he appeared alongside his compatriot Ryan Castro to perform “Una a la Vez,” a track from their joint album Omerta.
Earlier in the show, he performed solo with “Que Calor” while riding in a cardboard car that simulated driving. To the brief setlist, the Medellín native also added “I Like It,” his collaboration with Cardi B and Bad Bunny. During his performance, a pair of Labubus stood out — tiny furry monsters with pointy ears, big eyes and mischievous expressions — bringing smiles to the audience.
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Shakira & Burna Boy
The Colombian icon and the Nigerian star headlined the opening ceremony with the first live performance of the official World Cup anthem, “Dai Dai,” that electrified the stadium. This is the same venue the Barranquilla native last graced in 2018 during her El Dorado tour. Alongside her group of dancers, she swayed her powerful hips to the sound of African rhythms, making over 80,000 attendees dance as they celebrated the performance from one of their most beloved artists.
This marks the fourth time the “Hips Don’t Lie” singer has contributed songs to the World Cup. In Germany 2006, she performed “Hips Don’t Lie – Bamboo,” a version of her mega-hit “Hips Don’t Lie”; in South Africa 2010, she set the tone with her iconic “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” which was the official song of the tournament; and for Brazil 2014, she performed “La La La” during the closing ceremony at the Maracanã Stadium.
Shakira is also set to co-headline the halftime show of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, alongside Madonna and BTS.
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Tyla
Image Credit: Carl Recine/Getty Images South African singer and songwriter Tyla took to the stage to deliver a masterful rendition of her country’s national anthem, stirring emotion and pride in the nation’s team she represents. The performance was met with applause from attendees, who showed respect toward the rival team of the host nation.
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Alejandro Fernández
The star of Mexican regional music, Alejandro Fernández, was chosen to perform the Mexican national anthem, which was sung along by the 87,000 attendees at Estadio Ciudad de México. Dressed in a mariachi suit, the artist known as “El Potrillo” appeared moved by the privilege of performing this national symbol on such a historic day.
