The 2026 World Cup Opening Ceremony kicked off the tournament on Thursday, with a musical show that blended traditional and modern Latin American music and featured performances by artists from across the continent.
The show was hosted at the Estadio Azteca, one of the most iconic venues in Mexico and World Cup history. The ground is now set to become the first-ever to host a third World Cup opening game, when the Mexican national team takes on its South African counterpart
The ceremony began with scenes depicting the Juego de pelota, a ballgame and ritual played by the people of Ancient Mesoamerica, which some scholars identify as one of football’s historical precursors.
There, Mexican singer-songwriter Lila Downs welcomed the world to Mexico, saying that “football unites us all,” as a giant golden trophy, featuring imagery inspired by Native American artwork, took center stage.
After that, the music show began, with iconic Mexican rock band Maná singing their 1992 hit Oyé mi Amor (Hear, my love).
