Burna Boy Joins Shakira For FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony In Mexico City
Colombian pop superstar Shakira and Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Burna Boy are set to perform the official song of the 2026 FIFA World Cup during the tournament’s opening ceremony in Mexico City.
The globally celebrated artistes will take centre stage at the historic Estadio Azteca on June 11 ahead of the opening match between hosts Mexico and South Africa, performing Dai Dai, the official anthem of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The development was reported by BBC Sport on Friday following FIFA’s official announcement unveiling the performers for the highly anticipated ceremony.
According to FIFA, the official World Cup anthem was created to reflect football’s ability to unite people from different cultures, backgrounds and continents through a shared passion for the sport.
“Dai Dai is a celebration of football’s power to unite people across cultures and continents,” FIFA said in a statement announcing the performance.
The title of the song comes from an Italian phrase meaning “let’s go” or “come on,” a phrase widely associated with excitement, encouragement and celebration in sporting events.
FIFA described the anthem as one of the major highlights of the opening ceremony and a key part of the entertainment lineup planned for the tournament.
The governing body also revealed that Colombian reggae star J Balvin and South African singer-songwriter Tyla would perform during the event as part of celebrations marking the beginning of the month-long football tournament.
“We wanted a song that captures the energy, passion and global spirit of the FIFA World Cup,” FIFA stated.
“Shakira and Burna Boy bring together two of the world’s most influential musical voices.”
The announcement marks another major international milestone for Burna Boy, whose global popularity has continued to rise in recent years through sold-out tours, Grammy recognition and collaborations with top international artistes.
The Nigerian music star has become one of Africa’s most successful global entertainers, helping to elevate Afrobeats to mainstream international audiences.
His inclusion in the World Cup opening ceremony further highlights the growing global influence of African music and culture within international sporting and entertainment events.
For Shakira, the performance represents another return to football’s biggest stage following her memorable appearances at previous FIFA World Cup tournaments.
The Colombian singer has built a long-standing association with the World Cup through globally successful football anthems including Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and La La La for the 2014 edition in Brazil.
Waka Waka in particular became one of the most commercially successful World Cup songs in history and remains closely associated with football celebrations worldwide.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, making it the first tournament to be hosted by three countries simultaneously.
The competition will also introduce an expanded format featuring 48 national teams and 104 matches, making it the largest World Cup tournament ever organized.
FIFA has announced plans for separate opening celebrations across the host nations as part of efforts to showcase the cultural diversity of North America and enhance the entertainment experience for fans.
In Canada, renowned Canadian artistes Michael Bublé and Alanis Morissette are expected to headline celebrations before Canada’s opening fixture against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto on June 12.
Meanwhile, in the United States, American pop star Katy Perry and rapper Future are scheduled to perform before the United States face Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
The entertainment plans reflect FIFA’s broader strategy of integrating music, culture and large-scale performances into the tournament experience.
The football governing body has increasingly embraced entertainment-driven presentations similar to those seen during major American sporting events such as the Super Bowl.
As part of this approach, FIFA also confirmed that Shakira will return later in the tournament to perform at the World Cup final on July 19.
The final, scheduled to take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, will feature FIFA’s first-ever Super Bowl-style halftime show.
According to reports, Shakira will co-headline the halftime performance alongside American pop icon Madonna and globally popular K-pop group BTS.
The decision to introduce a halftime entertainment show at the World Cup final marks a historic shift in FIFA’s presentation of the tournament and is expected to attract massive global attention.
Football fans and music lovers around the world have already begun reacting positively to the announcement, particularly the inclusion of Burna Boy among the headline performers.
Entertainment analysts believe the collaboration between Shakira and Burna Boy could become one of the defining musical moments of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The tournament itself is expected to attract millions of fans to host cities across North America while generating billions of television and online views worldwide.
With preparations intensifying ahead of the competition, FIFA continues to unveil new entertainment plans aimed at making the 2026 World Cup one of the most commercially successful and culturally influential sporting events in history.
