FIFA announced Friday that Colombian superstar Shakira will headline the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Cup alongside Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Burna Boy, with the pair set to perform "Dai Dai," the tournament's official song, before the opening match at Mexico City's iconic Estadio Azteca.
The ceremony will begin approximately 90 minutes before hosts Mexico face South Africa on June 11, kicking off the first World Cup jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The performance marks another chapter in Shakira's long-standing relationship with the World Cup, a tournament she has become synonymous with through a series of memorable musical appearances spanning two decades.
"Dai Dai," released on May 14, blends Shakira's Latin pop sound with Burna Boy's globally popular Afrobeats style. The title comes from an Italian expression commonly used to mean "let's go" or "come on," a fitting rallying cry for a tournament expected to unite fans from around the world.
Featuring lyrics in multiple languages, the song celebrates unity, perseverance and cultural diversity, themes FIFA has emphasized throughout its buildup to the expanded 48-team competition.
