Colombian pop icon Shakira will headline the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on Thursday, 11 June — performing Dai Dai, her official anthem for the tournament, alongside Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy.

The phrase Dai Dai is Italian for "let's go" or "come on," a rallying cry well-suited for the world's biggest football tournament. South African singer-songwriter Tyla and Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin will also take the stage at the Mexico City ceremony, which precedes the tournament's opening match between Mexico and South Africa — the first of 104 games scheduled across the competition.

Three ceremonies across three host nations

The FIFA World Cup 2026 spans three host nations — Mexico, Canada, and the United States — and each country will stage its own opening ceremony before its first match kicks off.

In Canada, singer-songwriters Michael Buble and Alanis Morissette will headline the ceremony at BMO Field in Toronto on Friday, 12 June, ahead of Canada's opening fixture against Bosnia and Herzegovina (20:00 BST).

The United States will host pop star Katy Perry and rapper Future at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, 12 June (02:00 BST), before the USA face Paraguay.

A World Cup final to remember

The spectacle extends beyond the opening ceremonies. Shakira is set to co-headline the Super Bowl-style half-time show at the World Cup final on 19 July, sharing the stage with pop legend Madonna and K-pop boyband BTS — a lineup that signals FIFA's ambition to make the 2026 edition a cultural event as much as a sporting one.