A World Cup legend will be returning for the 2026 edition later this month after FIFA confirmed that music icon Shakira will be performing at the opening ceremony in Mexico.
It would genuinely not be too much to say that the Colombian superstar etched her name into World Cup folklore with her song ‘Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)’ for the 2010 tournament in South Africa. Close to two decades on, that song still stands the test of time. It really is one of the most iconic anthems in World Cup history, and the anthem is still heard to this day.
For the 2026 World Cup across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Shakira has released a new song called ‘Dai Dai,’ and soccer fans will get to see the 49-year-old perform it live. FIFA, the game’s governing body, has confirmed that Shakira will perform her official World Cup song alongside Burna Boy ahead of the first game of the tournament, which will be held at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Mexico plays South Africa on 11 June at 1 pm CST, with the opening ceremony starting at 11:30 am. J Balvin, a Colombian reggaeton star, will also perform at the opening ceremony in Mexico alongside South African singer-songwriter Tyla.
Canada and the United States will also hold opening ceremonies of their own ahead of the first game in those respective countries. It is the first time the World Cup has been staged across three different nations, and FIFA have duly gone all out. Michael Buble and Alanis Morissette headline in Toronto a day after the opening ceremony in Mexico ahead of Canada’s game with Bosnia and Herzegovina on 12 June.
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