World Cup opens in Mexico City with Shakira performance

The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup opened Thursday in Mexico City with a burst of music, color and national pride, as thousands of fans filled Estadio Azteca for the first of three opening ceremonies across North America.

The ceremony, held a little over an hour before Mexico faced South Africa in the tournament’s first Group A match, featured a tribute to Mexico’s Indigenous cultures and performances by international and local artists. The tournament is being co-hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada, making this the biggest World Cup ever, CBS News reported.

For Mexico, the opening marked the return of World Cup football on home soil for the first time in 40 years. Fans arrived at the Azteca wearing Mexico’s team colors, sombreros and other bright outfits, creating a festive scene inside one of football’s most famous stadiums.

The buildup had been complicated. The BBC reported that preparations included renovations at the airport and the Azteca stadium, along with protests surrounding the event and cartel violence in Mexico only months earlier. But on Thursday, those concerns appeared to recede as attention turned to the match and the ceremony.

Javier Pérez, who attended with his family, told the BBC the excitement outweighed the difficulties of the lead-up.

“We were lucky to get hospitality tickets and it’s a unique experience. I have never been to a World Cup before so to bring my family is wonderful,” he said. “I just want Mexico to get off on the right foot, win today and score a load of goals! And then we’ll see how far we can go!”

The show began with a dance routine highlighting Aztec culture, according to CBS News. Performers wore Indigenous clothing, while others appeared dressed in gold and lifted giant golden footballs above their heads. The BBC reported that the stadium was packed with fans dressed in colorful outfits, many in Mexico’s green, white and red.

The musical lineup included Colombian star Shakira, Colombian singer J Balvin, Nigerian Afrobeats artist Burna Boy, Latin music artist Danny Ocean and others. CBS News reported that Mexican rock band Maná performed “Oye Mi Amor,” along with appearances by Los Ángeles Azules. The BBC reported that Fher Olvera also performed.

Shakira and Burna Boy performed “Dai Dai,” the official anthem of this year’s tournament, which they co-wrote, according to CBS News.

The national anthems brought another spotlight to the co-hosts and their opponents. Mexican singer Fernández, the son of veteran crooner Vicente Fernández, sang Mexico’s anthem before kickoff, the BBC reported. Grammy-winning South African artist Tyla performed South Africa’s anthem. Tyla, known for songs including “Water” and the FIFA song “Game Time,” is also scheduled to perform Friday at the U.S. opening ceremony in Los Angeles.

Two more opening ceremonies are scheduled for Friday in the other host countries. Canada’s ceremony will take place in Toronto before Canada plays Bosnia and Herzegovina at BMO Field, with performances from Canadian artists including Alanis Morissette and Michael Bublé. The United States ceremony is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET in Los Angeles, about 90 minutes before the U.S. men’s national team plays Paraguay, and will feature Katy Perry, Future, Anitta and others.

When the Mexico ceremony ended and the match began, fans tossed sombreros into the air, celebrating the start of the tournament and Mexico’s role as host.