What happened, and who performed at the World Cup 2026 opening ceremony?

A star-studded performance, headlined by singers Shakira and Burna Boy, and a gigantic World Cup trophy officially inaugurated the tournament at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.

The iconic World Cup venue was a sea of dark green and yellow jerseys, as fans eagerly awaited the tournament opener between hosts Mexico and South Africa on Thursday.

It was a throwback to the 2010 World Cup, when Colombian star Shakira performed her viral song Waka Waka – which ultimately became a global football anthem – ahead of the match between then-hosts South Africa and Mexico. Only this time, Shakira performed the World Cup anthem Dai Dai, alongside Nigerian star Burna Boy.

The ceremony celebrated Aztec culture and saw the pitch filled with performers in colourful costumes before Mexican singer-songwriter Lila Downs welcomed the world in Spanish and English.

“People of the world, welcome to Mexico!” she said to the crowd filled with fans in Mariachi costumes and dark green jerseys supporting Mexico, which last hosted the World Cup in 1986. Two large screens at opposite ends of the stadium aired footage from the tournament 40 years ago.

The iconic Estadio Azteca already has a special place in football history after hosting two World Cup finals in 1970 and 1986, so it was a fitting choice to inaugurate the weeks-long tournament.

Venezuelan singer Danny Ocean sang ‘Partidazo’ alongside performers dressed in traditional Mexican dress. He was followed by Mexican popstar Belinda and Los Angeles Azules, who had a cultural mashup in their song ‘Por Ella’ as part of the World Cup album.

It was a ceremony for all generations as Mexican pop-rock band Mana had the crowd singing along to their 1992 hit ‘Oye Mi Amor’.