2026 FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony: Shakira dazzles with ‘Dai Dai’ theme song performance in Mexico City | Videos | Today’s news

Shakira and Burna Boy pumped up the crowd with high-energy performances during Thursday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony at the Estadio Azteca, ahead of the tournament between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa.

The 48-team expanded competition is co-hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada. The tournament will play 104 games and conclude with the finals in New Jersey on July 19.

Performers filled the field with a live performance as they danced around an oversized replica of the World Cup trophy while fireworks lit up the sky above the iconic 80,000-seat stadium. The venue, which hosted the World Cup finals in 1970 and 1986, underwent extensive renovations ahead of this year’s tournament.

One of the biggest highlights of the opening ceremony came when Colombian pop sensation Shakira joined forces with Burna Boy to perform “Dai Dai”, the tournament’s official anthem, to thunderous cheers from the packed crowd.

While the atmosphere inside the stadium remained celebratory, chaos broke out in central Mexico City, where thousands of fans pushed and shoved as they tried to enter the official World Cup fan zone shortly before kick-off at 18:00 GMT.

Thrown water bottles, insults to the police

Access to the Zocalo Plaza fan zone was restricted due to metal barricades installed in recent days to block protesting teachers from accessing the area.

“Stop pushing and shoving, there are kids here, you’re like animals!” a city official shouted through a megaphone as he tried to control access to the venue, where the opening match was to be broadcast on a giant screen, according to AFP.

Some fans also threw water bottles and shouted insults at the police, while others chanted in support of the Mexican team.

Javier Maciel, a 25-year-old fan, said: “It’s crazy. There could have been better organization.”

Local authorities announced on social media that the venue had reached capacity and advised fans to head to other public tours.

President Claudia Sheinbaum was scheduled to attend the game in the fan zone, but her attendance was called into question after several days of protests in the area by teachers demanding higher wages.