Colombian pop icon Shakira and Nigerian Afrobeats star Burna Boy brought the Estadio Azteca to its feet on Thursday as the 2026 FIFA World Cup opened in Mexico City ahead of the tournament’s first match between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa, The PUNCH reports.
The pair performed “Dai Dai,” the official song of the tournament, in what was the highlight of a colourful opening ceremony that also featured performances from Mexican music royalty, including Alejandro Fernandez, Lila Downs and Belinda.
Dancers twirled around a giant replica of the World Cup trophy as fireworks lit up the historic 80,000-capacity stadium, which has been renovated for this year’s tournament.
The Estadio Azteca, one of football’s most storied venues, previously hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals — occasions graced by Pele and Diego Maradona respectively — and on Thursday welcomed the world’s biggest sporting event for a record third time, with Mexico becoming the first nation to host the tournament on three occasions.
The 2026 edition is itself historic, becoming the first World Cup to feature 48 teams. The expanded tournament, co-hosted by the United States and Canada alongside Mexico, will feature 104 matches, with the final scheduled for July 19 in New Jersey.
While the mood inside the stadium was celebratory, scenes outside were far less orderly.
Thousands of fans pushed and shoved as they attempted to enter the official fan zone in Zocalo plaza ahead of the 6pm GMT kickoff, with access hampered by metal barriers erected to prevent protesting teachers from entering the area.
Some fans threw water bottles and directed insults at police, with others chanting in support of the Mexican team.
Local authorities eventually announced on social media that the fan zone was full and directed fans to other plazas in the city.
President Claudia Sheinbaum, who had been expected to watch the game at the fan zone, cast doubt on her attendance following days of protests by teachers demanding pay rises.
Adding a subplot to the occasion, Mexico have named 17-year-old Gilberto Mora among their substitutes, making him the youngest player at the entire tournament.
